Also, am interested in your thoughts on other major aspects of Australian civil religion, like growth of Anzac services (both in numbers of people attending and cultural significance), sport (both as participatory and entertainment), gambling, etc.
Charles Taylor has a lot to say about 'social imaginaries' - I think these things are part of our myth-making about ourselves as a nation- which every nation does. It has a kind of 'dreaming', if I may borrow that term!
That ABS article you site in relation to a low or declining adherence to traditional Aboriginal beliefs seems problematic to me. The framing of it by the ABS as a "religion" is likely leading to compromised results. The idea of a religion as a compartment of life is a very western-Christian one (or maybe just Christian in general, thinking of the likes of Augustine). For many, the values and beliefs that make up what we would call religion are just part and parcel of participating in cultural life. They would not think of it as religion.
A necessary primer for me, Michael; thank you for clarifying these terms, how they're employed, and their unwitting, oft-ignorant acceptance in our societal zeitgeist. How easily societal misassumptions can take root!
Also, am interested in your thoughts on other major aspects of Australian civil religion, like growth of Anzac services (both in numbers of people attending and cultural significance), sport (both as participatory and entertainment), gambling, etc.
Charles Taylor has a lot to say about 'social imaginaries' - I think these things are part of our myth-making about ourselves as a nation- which every nation does. It has a kind of 'dreaming', if I may borrow that term!
That ABS article you site in relation to a low or declining adherence to traditional Aboriginal beliefs seems problematic to me. The framing of it by the ABS as a "religion" is likely leading to compromised results. The idea of a religion as a compartment of life is a very western-Christian one (or maybe just Christian in general, thinking of the likes of Augustine). For many, the values and beliefs that make up what we would call religion are just part and parcel of participating in cultural life. They would not think of it as religion.
Yes that's a very good point
A necessary primer for me, Michael; thank you for clarifying these terms, how they're employed, and their unwitting, oft-ignorant acceptance in our societal zeitgeist. How easily societal misassumptions can take root!
Very thoughtful. I will read it again .