The Ecumenical movement and Interfaith Dialogue has played a key role in reducing the rise of secularism in Australia and has played a major part in the contribution with reconciliation of the Australian indigenous community post 1945. From 1901 to 1945 the overall religious makeup of Australia had little to no change, it was a set of British colonies until 1901. Australia’s society was mostly Anglo-Celtic Christian, with approximately 0.5 percent recognizing as non-Christian religion. This all changed with the effect of migration to Australia after the Second World War, this post war period bought a huge variation to Australia’s religious and ethnic makeup. (Morrissey, 2010)
Ecumenism refers to the movement towards religious harmony amongst …show more content…
Secularists believe that individuals are better-off without the reference to God in their lives. There are various purposes behind the increment in secularism in Australia; these incorporate expanding pluralism which is the acknowledgment of all religions as equivalent, materialism and individualism.
The populace has become a great deal more differing in religious practice and custom. Interfaith Dialogue offers the chance to keep open dialogue in Australian multicultural society. The individuals participate in interfaith dialogue events look to discover peace and congruity among Australia's different population. These events include: visits by spiritual leaders such as the Dalai Lama, Interfaith Relations of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Sydney Catholic Archdiocese. These events and organisations attempt to bring congruity to society. (Google.com.au, 2011)
Since the European settlement in Australia British law failed to acknowledge the way the indigenous people lived and their land and declared it terra nullius (no-man’s land). The Stolen Generation had a catastrophic effect on the aboriginal civilisation, thousands of children were forcibly taken from their home in an effort to eliminate their aboriginal culture and race. Many Aboriginals were also massacred and dispossessed from their