Musings - religion

Warning - my ignorance and broad generalisations are likely to offend some viewers. You'll get over it.

This 'compare and contrast' begins with the arrival of white settlers in the respective countries. Both countries did a shit job of dealing with the incumbents, choosing instead to kill them with disease and muskets.

America
America was largely settled by waves of religious refugees from Europe, of various creeds. This ethos still permeates the country in so many ways. Primarily, it means that in America you have freedom of religion, but not freedom from religion.

On the one hand, it means that no religion's holy days get public holiday recognition (except Christmas Day). So Good Friday is just the same as every other Friday for most people. Yom Kippur is unrecognised by a public holiday. The start and end of Ramadan is glossed over by most. My understanding is that (some) employees get half a dozen floating days which can be applied to the religious holy days of their choice.

No-one will ever be elected to public office in the States if they don't attend church (at least somewhat) regularly. In fact, it's stricter than that. You must attend a Christian church, and unless it's some form of Protestant church, you better have a shitload of money to make up for it (see also: Kennedys). So it's freedom of religion, as long as its ours. Obama is probably the biggest not-quite-exception to this, as he was raised in a secular household, exposed to many faiths, but not a believer. But he picked a church and got baptized before running for office. Like he had a choice.

The other corollary of this freedom of religion is that every Tom, Dick and Harry (but not Harriet) seems to be able to found a church. Where I was staying in East Harlem, I would pass at least three or four churches in the three blocks it took me to get to the subway, whichever direction I took. Mostly Baptist, some clearly long-closed, some brand spanking new. (Let's not even go anywhere near Scientology.)

Australia
By contrast, Australia was a convict settlement from the get-go. Half the people in the First Fleet, which arrived in January 1788, were convicts. This is probably the source of one of our defining characteristics: a lack of respect for authority. Including God and all who claim to speak for Him. These days, perhaps at most 20% of the population would attend church weekly (frankly, I'm surprised it's that high).

Founded by Anglicans*, the Protestant holy days are awarded public holiday status. In fact, almost all shops are required to shut on Good Friday and Christmas Day (as well as half of Anzac Day), and we also get Easter Monday. Our Constitution (1901) provides for freedom of religion, including the right to choose no religion (we'll still take the public holidays, thanks). Our courts explicitly permit a witness to choose whether to make an affirmation (I solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm ...) or an oath (I swear by Almighty God ...).  At least one of our Governers-General (the Queen's representative in Australia, you know, the Defender of the Faith and Head of the Church of England) was a well-known atheist, and was sworn into his office with an affirmation.

So this freedom of religion is recognised in the Education Acts of the various states, for example the Victorian one provides that "education in Government schools must be secular and not promote any particular religious practice, denomination or sect." So far, so good. Except the very next subsection provides that religious instruction is practically required to be provided in Government schools, must be done during class times, and must be supplied on an opt-out (not opt-in) basis. Now, this would be tolerable if the religious instruction were a comparative religions type of thing, discussing the characteristics and beliefs of the world's religions. But it's not. Ninety-six percent of all religious education in Australia is provided by Access Ministries, teaching Christian education only.

So we have a largely secular country where Christian holidays are granted higher status, and Christian education is practically mandated in government-funded schools. And America is a comparatively religious country, where you can choose your holy days, and Christianity can't be taught in schools (pockets of creationists notwithstanding).

Go figure.



*The gaolers were largely Anglican; the convicts were Irish Catholic or various forms of Protestant