HSC Studies of Religion

1. HSC Studies of Religion Task: Religion and Belief Systems in Australia Post 1945 General Feedback

2. General Feedback • Use of stimulus: • Most referred directly to stimulus. • Majority used percentages rather than actual full numbers. This is preferred. • Some misinterpreted the information or misunderstood nature of the stimulus. • Don’t add up statistics. Only use what is provided. • Use the statistics to back up your point (with own research and reading). • Use your statistics first and then justify their use with your points and arguments. Don’t put your stats in the last paragraph. It looks like a token effort and makes your answer disjointed.

3. Addressing the question – Most understood nature of the question. Remember that the key verbs were underlined. • Use both the stimulus and your own wide reading from a number of sources to address the question. • Trying to use examples from your own experience only (your own understanding of contemporary society / Christian practice etc) left the answer without strength. Your text and readings provide plenty of reasons to refer to. • Remember that you should structure your answer with a short paragraph on each main point. (for short responses like these) • Some listed the points in one paragraph rather than explained them. Some concentrated on one point and spent too long on it. Keep a balance to earn the most marks. • Most went straight into their points. This was good. Some wrote essay like introductions which were very general in nature, but didn’t really say much. Get straight to the main points in short responses. • Listen carefully to verbal as well as written instructions. You were all told not to type up your answers and stick them on. This disadvantages the rest of the group who wrote them (you can fit more typed words on a line than written words).

4. General tips • Read everything you can get your hands on before starting a question. Wide reading leads to stronger answers • Plan your time effectively. 5 weeks should have been plenty. Some answers look very hurried, unplanned and were not edited. • In a task like this, the answers you handed in should not have been your first attempt. Draft and refine your work. • Get someone else to read your work before handing it in. Sometimes answers that make sense to you may not be easily understood by others. • Make sure you understand terminology. Denominational switching was misused by some students to refer to changing from one religion to another. It only refers to changing between variants (denominations) of one religion.

5. 1) Explain the term Native Title and its significance to Aboriginal Land Rights. (8 lines – 3 marks) • The High Court case in 1992 of Mabo vs. Queensland first found that Native Title existed • The Native title act of 1993 recognised the existence of Native Title in law. • It laid down the guidelines and structures by which Indigenous people could pursue Native Title in cases where it is believed that their traditional rights had not been extinguished. This gave them access to their land and therefore their spirituality. • This overturned the misconception of ‘Terra Nullius’ • Legitimate purchase of land did extinguish Native Title • The case didn’t look at the issue of Pastoral Leases.

6. 2) With reference to the stimulus above, explain the significance of the Mabo decision for black and white Australia. (16 lines – 4 marks)

7. The term Mabo refers to the 1992 Australia High Court judgement in the Mabo v. Queensland case. Murray (Mer) Island people led by Eddie Mabo sought title over their traditional lands. • The Court found that land title of Indigenous people was recognised under Common Law. • The decision meant that where indigenous people could show continuous occupancy of and connection with their traditional lands, that was in accordance with their traditions, Native Title could be said to exist, unless specifically extinguished by the Crown. • It rejected absolutely the early colonists concept of ‘Terra Nullius’, the belief that Australia was unoccupied and had no prior system of land ownership • It gave no new rights to Indigenous people, rather it recognised their traditional legal rights.

8. The stimulus shown is part of an anti-Mabo campaign, that was developed within mainstream white Australia during the court case. • It was feared by many non-indigenous people that the Mabo Decision would ‘ruin economies, arrest development, lower living standards, change life styles and divide Australia society’ • The anti-Mabo campaigners tried to emphasis the importance of treating everyone equally, and not granting Indigenous people ‘extra’ rights. • They developed a scare campaign about the possibility of Indigenous people claiming Native Title over individuals homes. • This was a misconceived concept, as the Mabo did not give new rights to Indigenous people, it recognised their traditional rights, to land that had not been legitimately purchased, and continuous connections with the land could been proven.

9. 3) Describe the importance of the Wik decision on Aboriginal Land Rights (21 lines – 5 marks) • The Native Title act of 1993 did not resolve the question of whether granting pastoral leases extinguished Native Title. • The Wik decision, which clarified this issue was handed down by the High Court in 1996. • The Wik People sought Native Title over traditional lands which were at the time under pastoral leases in North Queensland. Some of this land was used to run cattle, but mostly it was unused except for its traditional occupation by the Wik people. • The court found that the lease, although allowing the pastoralists certain rights to run cattle, did not extinguish Native Title, that the two could co-exist. • The court ruled that where there was conflict between the two, the pastoral lease would prevail, but it did not confer exclusive rights of ownership.

10. Pastoralists where then given certainty to continue with grazing and related activities such as building dams and fences. • At the time of the decision around 42% of Australia’s mainland was covered by pastoral leases, so this gave Indigenous people right to access their traditional lands which they had been previously locked out of, and increased the amount of Native Title claims. • This decision also allowed Indigenous people to negotiate directly with pastoralists, outside of the courts. • This was a major step forward for indigenous people as it allowed them to access their lands, to regain their sense of identity through the Dreaming and their spirituality.

11. 4) With reference to the stimulus (Change in religious affiliations (1996-2006 Census), account for the significant increase in religious affiliation within the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions in Australia. (3 marks – 8 lines)

12. Refers directly to stimulus • Large increase in immigration from Asian countries where Buddhism or Hinduism is the predominant religious tradition. • Provides some examples of such countries. • Buddhist / Hindu immigrants from Asian Countries having children who are brought up in parents religious tradition. • Changes to Australia’s immigration policies since abolition of White Aust Policy allowed for Asian immigration. • Rising population of Eastern religions amongst Anglo-celtic (and/or European) Australians.

13. 5) With reference to the stimulus (Change in religious affiliations (1996-2006 Census), suggest and briefly explain the reasons why the Anglican, Presbyterian and Reformed Variants of Christianity have experienced negative growth rates. (15 lines – 4 marks)

14. Refers directly to stimulus • Explains Denominational switching • Describes the current denominational switching trend of moving from liberal / traditional churches to more conservative evangelical / Pentecostal churches with conservative theology. Expecting higher levels of commitment / accountability. • Pentecostal churches (eg Hillsong have contemporary and engaging appeal) often have very aggressive evangelism. Younger people are more attracted to this rather than traditional liberal churches. • Formation of Uniting Church (Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist) in 1977, obviously took members from Presbyterian Church and other reformed.

15. Aging population not replaced in churches with younger members (or immigrants with Anglican, Pres and reformed affiliation are a much smaller proportion of total immigrant population in recent times). • Drifters: Not committing to a life long commitment to one church. More likely to shop around and look for stronger community, better preaching / pastoral care, differing theology, engaging worship etc. • A growing trend of switchers and drifters looking for more conservative theology and exclusivity and a deeper level of commitment. This ‘absolutism’ is possibly a reaction against the post modern pluralistic approach to today’s subjectivity and individualism.

16. 6) With reference to the stimulus (Change in religious affiliations (1996-2006 Census), outline end explain the reasons why the ‘No Religion’ category has experienced significant growth between 1996 – 2006. (17 lines – 4 Marks)

17. Refers directly to stimulus ie 25.7% rise in no religion. • Main reason: Rise in secularism (a trend not an organised movement) • Sexual abuse of children by clergy. Has led to loss of moral authority, respect and trust. • Rise of individualism over community /society values and norms. Individuals make moral decisions without guidance of a church. Acceptance of pluralism of thought. • Privacy issues in filling census. May be distorted figure. Eg. Australian Jews

18. Introduction of ‘No religion’ category in • Resurgence of rationalist / humanist ideas originating during the enlightenment. Science, logic and reason was determined to be more suitable for matters of state than religious principles. This has led to a trend away from religious adherence. • General trend of suspicion / rejection of authority figures (Gov’t, church), because of patriarchal nature. • Feminism, civil rights movement (in USA). • Established religion has lost its monopoly of influence on answering the basic / fundamental questions of life. • Materialism has replaced Supreme being for worship. • Religion no longer serving a purpose in the lives of people

19. A sign of the times is the opening up of many “New Age” shops, selling things from crystals to books on Eastern philosophies. There is a real smorgasbord of products aimed at those who are “shopping around” for things spiritual. It suits our pluralistic, consumer age.Yet it is also a sign of the spiritual confusion of our times. Many years ago, a work colleague of mine said that he didn't belong to any church. He was a “Callithumpian,” he said. I wish I had known the real meaning of the word at the time. “Callithumpian” comes from “calathus”, Latin for a rubbish bin, and it means that the person has retrieved all the ideas that other people have rejected and thrown out. Source: The Challenge of the New Age: Where Lies the Real Challenge?by Brian Incigneri http://www.ccr.org.au/newage.html

20. 7) Describe the rise of New Age religions in Australia and with reference to the statement above, discuss what impact they are having on Australia’s religious landscape (25 lines – 5 marks)

21. Directly refers to stimulus • New Age religions suiting needs in contemporary society due to its individual nature. No corporate worship, no need for conformity of practice, or commitment of membership • Abandonment of religious adherence but continuing a spiritual search for meaning. New age provides smorgasboard of beliefs, products and practices that meet the needs of searchers.

22. Increased suspicion and disillusionment with authority since Vietnam (Civil rights and feminism movements). New Age religions provide an alternative to this. • Church has provided in adequate spiritual guidance, loss of moral authority, churches sexual abuse scandals. • Rise of individualism, inner potential, self help. This trend of finding one’s own spiritual fulfilment rather than relying on religion to provide it. • New Age movement a reflection of a consumerist society. Shopping for spiritual fulfilment (Tarot, Palm readings etc and spiritual products (crystals, jewellry and services) as accepted as getting a facial or massage.

23. Impact of New Age religions on Australia’s religious landscape • Australia has changed in nature from a predominantly Christian country to a multi cultural, multi-faith society. The new age movement has fulfilled a needed niche in what has become a spiritual marketplace. The choice of religious traditions (and the variants within them) available because of changed immigration policies and a trend away from community as the governing cultural influence has changed the fabric of our nation’s culture. In an increasingly, secular culture, New Age religions have become an accepted way to fulfil a person’s search for meaning.