Today Christianity is principally followed religion of Australia but unlike today aboriginal Australians used to follow their indigenous traditions. Different kinds of rites and rituals were part of religious activities of native Australian people. Dreaming was a very important part of native Australian’s religious behavior and rituals. Australians, Before colonial period, used to believe that there is a supernatural power who created everything on this earth right from human beings, all other creatures and everything that is visible on the earth.
Native Australians came in touch with sailors and they were introduced to Christianity during colonial period but before this there was a period of chaos. Some native Australians adopted other religions and faith and some of them were even forced to adopt Islam. Church of England sent various missions in Australia to convert natives and when catholic missions reached to Australia, native Australians, came to know about Christianity. Europeans worked hard in order to achieve their mission but result was in their favor and natives adopted Christianity.
Australia, in post colonial period is a Christian dominated country where more than 65 percent people follow Christianity. Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism are other religions of post colonial Australia. Australia, as a state, recognizes and respects every religion and there is no any discrimination by the state on the basis of religion of people residing in Australia. Secularism is one of main principles of Australia and no religion is promoted by the state but fundamentalism of any kind is not tolerated. Today Australia is one of few countries that can boast to be a very rich in terms of its religious multiplicity.
Work Cited
Clarke, Francis Gordon. The History of Australia. USA: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002.
