The Christian Research Association is about to publish the results of a major survey into changing patterns of belief in Australia. Researchers quizzed 1718 people, and the results were compared with similar surveys conducted in 1993 and 1999. According to reports in the Fairfax press, one of its key findings is that while there's a marked decline in adherence to institutional religion, more people are saying they are, nevertheless, 'spiritual'.
In this interview, one of Australia's most respected social researchers, Hugh Mackay talks about this phenomenon of being 'spiritual rather than religious'. He also addresses more general trends and contradictions in belief in this country, the value of progressive thinking in religious institutions, and how both atheism and fundamentalism challenge contemporary religion.
He spoke to Eureka Street TV after giving an address at the Common Dreams conference for religious progressives held over four days at St Kilda Town Hall in April this year. (Continues below)
In October 2004, Compass on ABC TV presented an in-depth profile of Hugh Mackay in which he talked about his own family and religious background. He grew up in the very comfortable suburb of Castlecrag on Sydney's north shore, and his family attended a conservative Baptist church.
In his early 20s he rejected Christian belief and practice, only coming back to it in his mid-40s when he started attending the high-church Anglican St James in King Street in the centre of Sydney. He was attracted by the music, and even started singing in the church's choir.
'I do love liturgical music,' he says. 'Though, having been raised in that rather primitive fundamentalist context, of course, I didn't have much exposure to sophisticated sacred music.'
He says this is an expression of the mystery and mysticism at the heart of life which is the primary concern of religion: 'That's what I go to religion for. I mean, I go for a sense of, not exactly making sense of life's mysteries, but celebrating the mysteries, contemplating why we're here. I mean it's a mysterious business.'
Having been through two marriage breakdowns, Mackay does not see himself as a haughty detached observer, passing judgement on his research subjects: 'I've never stood aside and said, "Look what's happening to all these peasants who are leading these messy lives, and I'm somehow beyond, above that struggle". Never had that view, I've always known I was in the struggle as well