14.3.1 Secularism Historically, religion and government were closely linked. Pharaohs in Egypt were seen as ‘God-Kings’, and European kings ruled by ‘divine right’. Over time, people questioned religion’s role in government, especially when it led to persecution or discrimination of other faiths. Many governments have adopted a secular approach, separating religion from the state. In a secular society, religion does not inþuence laws, and all citizens are treated equally, regardless of faith. Australia’s Constitution (Section 116) promotes religious freedom by ensuring that no law establishes or prohibits religion. Despite this, religion and politics sometimes clash, sparking debates in society and parliament. Understanding this history is key to exploring recent debates. 14.3.2 Historical foundations of religion in Australian society Since Europeans came to Australia, Christianity has been the dominant religion of our country. As the European inþuence over Australia spread, so too did the inþuence of Christianity. The vast majority of convicts and ofýcial members of the First Fleet identiýed as Christian. Speciýcally, they were Anglican and, therefore, aligned with the Church of England. The popularity of Catholicism increased as transportation to the colonies continued. It has since been estimated that there are now over 100 different religious afýliations in Australia.
SkillBuilder discussion Investigating contemporary Civics and Citizenship issues 1. How many of these symbols do you recognise? Which do you know about? 2. Identify which religion’s
FIGURE2 Symbols of some of the different faiths that are practised in Australia
symbol is represented by a crescent moon and star.
3. Name the religion associated with the Omsymbol.
More recent data on religious afýliation reveals some of the more dominant religions practiced in Australia today. These are again a reþection of where settlers in Australia have come from. Interesting is the near 40 per cent of people who are atheists and do not believe in a god or organised religion.
TOPIC14 Citizenship, diversity and identity 519
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