Multiculturalism and the Proliferation of Minority Faith
November 14th 2006 07:14
As traditional mainstream religions experience unprecedented attendance-rate lows, and thoughtless reaction to societal change sees the removal of Gideon Bibles from hospitals and schools in NSW and Victoria, effectively eliminating over 100 years of altruistic practice---is Christianity under attack?
There is a conundrum facing contemporary Australian society that of multiculturalism equals religious minorities. Move over historical mainstream Christianity, the Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant, you will need to make room for Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, to name but several.
Okay, so where is the problem? Well, if asked in terms of a society that was born multicultural, there is none. However, in terms of a society that historically has had Christianity as a moral and ethical cornerstone, established religious and cultural rituals dating from the nation's inception, then there could be.
We need to go back in time to appreciate the important role Christianity played in the formation of Australia. To around the start of the 20th century and those heady days of Federation, when a young culture's men were taming the bush, digging for gold, working the factories, or roaming the countryside in search of work. A time when crime and drunkenous was more common than galahs and goannas. Yet drunken criminals do not populate contemporary Australia, so what happened to turn the immoral tide? One family orientated Labor leader of the 1880s William Lane, played a role. However, Christian temperance and feminist refomers---already active in Britain and America---provided the greatest impetus for social reform.
It could be argued that these reformations are the expected social evolution of a young nation's culture. Though if we look at other cultures where Christianity, feminism, and social reform are absent, we see corruption and vice at every level of governance and society. Yes, cultural diversity is the future; heritage-values the past. If Australian society is to remain uniquely egalitarian however, then these two must become one: Australian multiculturalism.
There is a conundrum facing contemporary Australian society that of multiculturalism equals religious minorities. Move over historical mainstream Christianity, the Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant, you will need to make room for Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, to name but several.
Okay, so where is the problem? Well, if asked in terms of a society that was born multicultural, there is none. However, in terms of a society that historically has had Christianity as a moral and ethical cornerstone, established religious and cultural rituals dating from the nation's inception, then there could be.
It could be argued that these reformations are the expected social evolution of a young nation's culture. Though if we look at other cultures where Christianity, feminism, and social reform are absent, we see corruption and vice at every level of governance and society. Yes, cultural diversity is the future; heritage-values the past. If Australian society is to remain uniquely egalitarian however, then these two must become one: Australian multiculturalism.
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Comment by Nina
Comment by Damo
Just a couple of thoughts and observations about this post.
Media Watch on ABC TV investigated the claim of Gideon Bibles being removed from hospitals and found the story to be baseless. I will not dispute your claims on this matter but I do require more information so that I can make a choice as to who is correct.
Culture and Religion are two different things. People of different cultures can share the same religion. Conversely People of different religions can share the same culture. Then again it depends on how you define your culture.
Mainstream religions making room for non mainstream may not actualy be the mechanism of how religions operate socially. People of different religions migrate and establish their own places of worship and largely service their own populations.
Cultural Diversity and Heritage can't argue with that.
Christian Nations being less corrupt than non christian? I leave that point alone for now.
Comment by Pete
Millennium Watch
The ABC is technically correct. Gideon Bible's were removed, but only from bedside tables or top draws. A patient now has to ask nursing staff if they would like to read one. Political correctness, or knee-jerk reaction? As to corrupt societies, certainly there may be exceptions, please let me know if you find any.
Cheers.
Comment by Damo
I put the question of corruption in the too hard basket because it is an extremely vague term.
It is totally dependant upon what you are going to measure the corruption against. Corruption implies values of some kind are being corrupted but which values are being deemed to be the important one?