the arrival and establishment of Christianity and TWO other religious traditions in Australia

CHRISTIANITY

JUDAISM

ISLAM

the impact of sectarianism on the relationship among Christian denominations in Australia pre-1945 

• At the time of the arrival of the first fleet (1788) there was considerable rivalry and bitterness between the Church of England and Catholics in England and Ireland.

• The Protestant reformation of the 16th century had left a great deal of bitterness between the Catholics and Protestants

• Secondly, the occupation of Ireland by the English and the oppression of the Irish people maintained the strength of feeling.

• Colony was set up with the Church of England as the established religion Catholics in the colony were a small minority and felt they were harshly treated.

• Everybody expected to attend Divine Service, for most of the first 30 years of the colony Catholics were not permitted to have a Priest minister to their community

• The Irish (Catholics) were regarded as "scum" by most of the English authorities, and not allowed to expand their mostly Catholic faith.

• Education became an important political issue which was played out according to sectarian division.

• Employment practices were further instances of sectarianism, notices regarding positions vacant often included the qualification "Catholics need not apply".

• Discrimination in employment was not practised in the Public Service.

• Catholic schools had a strong focus on preparing their students to pass the annual Public Service examination.

• Debate over conscription in World War I further fuelled sectarian rivalry.

• To introduce conscription required a successful passage of a referendum on the issue

• Leaders of the Protestant Churches urged citizens to show loyalty to Britain and support the referendum.

• Catholic leaders by contrast were strident in their opposition.

 the contribution of Christianity to social welfare in Australia pre-1945

Christianity made a profound contribution towards the social welfare of Australia pre-1945, evidenced through the initiatives implemented by individuals and organisations of varying denominations. Religion provided social welfare at the time as the government did not. Christian denominations attempted to assist the marginalised to heighten their Christian ethos. A majority of the actions conveyed by Christians conformed to the belief that assisting the needy formed a central part of their Christian ethos

In particular, Caroline Chisholm exhibited the contribution of the Catholic Church to Australia. Throughout the 1840s, she established the Female Immigrants Home, to which she supported women arriving in Australia who were experiencing inexplicable plights. She provided shelter, employment and protection for a substantial number of female immigrants. Since 1882, the Salvation Army focused on the provision of welfare and served the Australian people. Evidenced in 1884 with the Rescued Sisters' Home in Carlton, directed at aiding female prisoners as well as the attempts to assist former convicts with their transition into regular society.

OTHER SERVICES ESTABLISHED REGARDING SOCIAL WELFARE:

• 1888 - Mother Esther establishes the first Church of England religious order to work for poor women and prostitutes.

• 1897 - Nathaniel Dawes establishes the Bush Brotherhood (Church of England) with preachers on horseback providing ministry to those living in rural and remote areas.

• 1920s - Australian Inland Mission of the Presbyterian Church developed the Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air.

Discuss the role and impact of religious traditions in rural and outback communities pre-1945 

Rural and outback communities experienced limited access to their necessities, numerous Christian services attempted to aid these disadvantaged communities. Clergies from the Church of England organised church services throughout rural Australia initially to reach those living great lengths from regional churches and to give a sense of community and prayer. These acts led to the development of the Bush Brotherhood. This organisation consisted of itinerant priests to minister to sparsely-settled rural districts. Through this ministry, the Bush Brotherhood is inextricably responsible for the High Church Anglicanism in outback communities. Additionally, in the 1920s the Presbyterian Church developed the Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air. This provided emergency and primary health services for those in rural and outback areas who were unable to immediately acquire these pivotal services. 

Outline the contribution of ONE religious tradition to the provision of education in Australia pre-1945 

Christianity had a profound influence on early Australian society in the area of education. This is most evident in the development of religiously affiliated schools. This was because education was a critical issue for all religious groups, particularly for the Catholics many of whom belonged to the lower classes, hence belonging to a disadvantaged group in the colony. Consequently, education was seen by Catholics as a way to maintain their values, in the face of sectarian rivalry.

The influence of Christianity on education can be seen firstly with the enactment of the Schools Estates Corporation Charter of 1825. Its provisions were that one seventh of all colonial land grants were to be reserved for the Church of England schools and churches. The result was as intended, that is, it reaffirmed the status of the Church of England as the established church.

Governor Burke's Church Act of 1836 is the second example showing Christianity's profound influence on education. The Church Act provided a “pound for pound” subsidy to all denominations. Thus, on the surface, it appeared to equally assist all denominations but in practice the Church of England dominance continued. This was because the Church of England had the greatest capacity to raise money and hence obtained the greatest benefits from the provisions of the Act. The long term result was, however, unexpected. The Catholic Church through a great deal of determination, organisation, and sacrifice managed to take advantage of the provisions of the Church Act and turn it into an advantage for them. The Presbyterians were displeased with the fact that governments were funding denominational schools as they believed that state and church should be separate. The Methodists opposed the fact that the Catholics were receiving funding even though they were pleased to reap the benefits of the Church Act.

The end to funding for denominational schools came about through the Public Instruction Act 1880 which established that education was to be free, compulsory and secular. This caused an abrupt end to state aid, that is, government funding for denominational schools. Most people belonging to the Church of England, supported government schools and as such were not concerned about the loss of funding to religiously affiliated schools. Those Church of England schools which did choose to remain operating as religious schools required that parents meet the cost of education themselves. The end to state aid brought great hardships to the Catholic school system because they did not have the same resources as the Church of England schools to continue operating. It was only through great sacrifice and dedication from those in religious orders that Catholic schools were able to continue to operate without government assistance.

It can be seen therefore through an analysis of three key pieces of legislation that Christianity has had a significant influence on education in colonial Australia.

Examine initiatives taken by ONE religious tradition in Australia in the area of public morality pre-1945

Public morality refers to the attempts at social control through legislation, usually promoted by the more conservative Christian denominations, in response to perceived immoral behaviour in society.

Temperance movements were organised social movements [primarily by Evangelical groups in the Church of England and Protestants]. 

The major temperance movements in Australia pre-1945 consisted of:

• Women’s Christians Temperance Union.

  • They formed in May 1881 and their primary aim was to cease alcohol consumption.

• Social Purity Society

  • They began in the late 19th century and had the goals to improve Sunday observance and to stop alcohol consumption and the sexual exploitation of females. 

• The Independent Order of Rechabites (IOR), also known as the Sons and Daughters of Rechab.

  • They were a fraternal organisation and friendly society founded in England in 1835 as part of the wider temperance movement. They promoted total abstinence from alcohol.

Overall, the battle against alcohol consumption was mostly successful as extensive legislation was put in place. In general, the temperance movements resulted in levels of anti-religious to increase at the time. The refusal by many to accept these attempts at social control which curtailed many acts of enjoyment sowed the seeds for a more secular society. The religious tensions heightened between the Church of England, the Catholic Church and the conservative elements within Protestant denominations. Debates about moral behaviour also led to social tension.