Studies of Religion One Unit Hsc – Secularism Speech

What is laicism? Secularism is the belief that religion should not interfere with or be integrated into the public affairs of a society. Oxford dictionary defines sacrilegious as concerned with the affairs of the world, not ghostly or spiritual so in this sense both civil government is secular. The only civil governments that are not fully secular in this sense are Vatican City and some fundamentalist Moslem states. The governments of only the major countries in the world including Australia, the USA, Great Britain, New Zealand, Italy, India, etc are all secular governments. there are multiple factors which learn contributed to the decline of religions relevance for the integrating and legitimation of modern life. The increase pluralism and physicalism of society alongside societys increase individualism and dissatisfaction with traditional religions are major reasons for secularisation. This trend is well-nigh lucid in the significant increase in the number of people respo nding No religion in the nose count alongside an overall decline in the Christian figures recorded in the census Interfaith Dialogue and evolution secularism.Since World War II, Australias population has grown and become much diverse and Australians devote become more secular in nature. Secularists confide that people are comfortable without the reference to God in their lives. There are a number of reasons for the increase in secularism in Australia these entangle increasing pluralism i. e. the acceptance of all religions as equal individualism and materialism spirituality may be overlooked when power, looks, possessions and fame are offered instead. What Impact did Secularism have on the Religious landscape of Australia post 1945?The rise of secularism has led to both a drop in the numbers of people regularly care religious service. In 1947 only 0. 3% of the population classified themselves as having No Religion. However, in 1971 the instruction if no religion, write no(pr enominal) was introduced into the census. This saw a seven-fold increase from the previous census year in the component of persons stating they had no religion (0. 8% in 1966 to 6. 7% in 1971). Thus many people who would have previously fallen under(a) the Not Stated category were now included. Since 1971 this percentage has progressively increase to about 16. 5% in 1996, with a dip to 15. % in 2001. The 2001 census figures reveal that Christianity is still the numerically largest religious tradition in Australia news report for 68. 0% of the population. However, there has been a significant decline in the percentage of people affiliated with Christianity. Furthermore, of those claiming affiliation there has been a decline in the regular attendance of religious services. The ongoing decline in most Christian groups as a percentage of the population is due to increasing secularization as well as other factors such as dissatisfaction with traditional religious movements, aging memb ership, and a lack of migrant intake.Effects of secularism harm of religious values. Lack of religious church practice civil marriages, non religious funerals, shopping malls (the new cathedrals) Seeking alternative religions or forms of spirituality. tender standing of clergy/church trustworthiness Political social action Marxism, common land Movement etc. Influence of scientific humanism, economic rationalism elevator of New Age Religions which focus on personal satisfaction, wealth, self cooperate groups, happiness, mind and spirit exhibitions, personal meditation, affirmation environmental sit ins. These have all attained quasi religious status.