Australian Communities Report: A Demographic & Social Analysis of Religion & the Church in Australia

The Australian Communities Report, commissioned by Olive Tree

Media, is an analysis of religion & spirituality in 21st Century

Australia and research into the main belief blockers of Christianity.

This research was conducted by McCrindle Research in October

2011 based on a national representative survey of 1,094 Australians

and 3 focus groups of Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomers.

ReligiousAffiliation

Source: ABS Census 2006 Data

Australians & Religion:“Christian”, “Spiritual” & “None”.

What is your religion?

Spirituality & Religion Defined

Spirituality = “Self awareness”

= “A deeper connection”

Religion = “Attendance”

= “Tasks”

= “Obligations”

Religious identity, but less activity

How active are you in practicing your religion?

OutgrowingReligion

What best describes your current religious status?

I went to Catholic primary school so we had to go to church... It faded out when I got older , in my life and my family’s as well...

Significant “warmth”towards Christianity

Mod

ified

En

gel S

cale

What best describes your current beliefs & attitudes towards Christianity?

Family is formative

Mass media & social media

a growing influence.

Who or what has most influenced your perceptions & opinions of Christians & Christianity?

Half of all Aussies“not open at all”

But almost half areto some extent “open”

How open are you to changing your religious worldview?

Belief blockers:Doctrine & Practices (“block completely”)

Not open to changeTo what extent do the following block or engage you...?

My belief is that God will send you somewhere else, but not actually in hell.

Belief blockers:Christianity & the Church (“massive negative”)

Not open to changeTo what extent do the following attract or repel you...?

The church needs to let people know that it is not that they are enforcing something on the society, let them know that it’s about faith.

Significant beliefin Jesus

Was Jesus a real person from history?

When did Jesus live?

Reasonable acceptanceof the miraculous

To what extent do you believe the following?

Religious conversations:not routine, but not taboo.

Do you ever talk about spirituality or religion when you gather with friends?

Mark McCrindle

mark@mccrindle.com.au

02 8824 3422

mccrindle.com.au