Ours is an ever-evolving society. Each day we continue to grow and change in many different ways. However, for the purposes of this essay the focus will be on Australia's changing ideas on religion and spirituality. True religion in Australia today has little to do with Christianity. It is a well-documented fact that there has been a decline in church attendance. This coincides with an increase in leisure expenditure and other secular interests. Consequently the true religion is no longer Christianity.
Christianity is a system of beliefs based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is also a way of life and a community of people . Christians believe in one God, who created the universe and all that is in it. They believe that this God is active in history, guiding and teaching his people1. The main teachings of Christianity are outlined in the Apostles' Creed, the Athanasian Creed and the Nicene Creed .
Gods and sodas
Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Ch...
God the Father 16Statements about: the Trinity, the Incarnation, a doctrine stating that God became flesh in the person of Jesus and that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine and Salvation2. However, in modern society many of these Christian beliefs are being replaced with others of secular origin. Australia is moving away from the church and their ideologies and focusing on secular values.
According to the 1996 National Church Life Survey (NCLS), both church attendees and non-attendees regard encouraging good morals as the most important role of the churches . Providing public worship, supporting the poor, counselling, social justice advocacy and chaplaincy are also seen as important roles for churches3. The churches play a key role in helping the wider community to process events such as September 11, 2001. Although, the general population appreciates that the churches provide much needed services to the community,