The census results tell us that the number of people who indicate 'no religion' has grown to one third of the population. That is a solid fact about our Australian society. And facts are there to ground us in reality. In this most secular of societies it is not surprising that this number is rising.
Indeed, a growing refusal to tick a box marked Christian, Muslim or Buddhist simply because of family or cultural allegiance reveals an honesty about how we live and think. Some commentators greeted this news as a clear sign of progress, a mark of our growing maturity: people are learning to see through the claims and limits of religious belief. It's worth pausing a moment to consider the underlying assumptions.
Let's be frank. Religion has been, and still is in many cases, a trap. It can be used as a cover, a cloak, for political, economic, sexual or personal power over others, for economic gain, for violence. History provides numerous examples of colonisation where exploitation of peoples, land and resources went hand in hand with 'Christianising' the population.
Today examples of brutality and violence cloaked by appeals to the Koran, to the importance of Hindu, Buddhist, or Islamic superiority are constantly before our eyes. Christians in many Western countries block entry to refugees, treating those of other faiths with great suspicion lest they weaken our 'values'.
People with power can tap into a deep energy, anger or fear in the human psyche which can be manipulated through appeal to religion. 'With God on our side' and 'in the name of Allah' have led to hideous acts carried out in the belief that they are the will of God.
In addition, many people have maintained a pre-critical sense of God that is unable to dialogue meaningfully with modern science. It makes sense that we would grow out of such a 'small' God.
So why not rejoice that Australians are seeing the light? Well, letting the worst of something blind us to its deeper possibilities is not wise in any sphere. One concern is the flat-lining of our society, the removal of any guide other than what I, and the small group I belong to, value.
'Religion' is the name we give to the 'system' — the world view, the principles, the beliefs, the ethics that guide our priorities and actions. This does not always involve reference to God, as many totalitarian regimes have shown. A vacuum in this area will be filled.
"In times when we are drawn to betray our deeper values, the fact that this goes against the common good and undermines relationships we value can steady us."
In many places a culture of narcissism has gained a strong foothold. A culture of my selfie, my needs, my profile, and 'because I'm worth it' has led to the United States, Philippines, North Korea and how many other places being in the hands of narcissistic personalities. The self-absorbing anonymity of cyber space has facilitated violence, bullying, and frighteningly explicit sexual abuse. Pride, envy, destructiveness of all kinds can determine behaviours.
When the depth of major religions is plumbed, they hold up a vision of care for others, for the environment, for a greater meaning in life that can shape our priorities and actions. They encourage us to be our best selves. In times when we are drawn to betray our deeper values, the fact that this goes against the common good and undermines relationships we value can steady us. For this to be true, who God is for us matters. Our relationship with the mystery we name at the heart of life needs to be sufficiently vibrant to hold us. This speaks of the need for a deepening commitment to a real religious quest rather than lip service.
Most deeply, religion opens us to the possibility of encountering mystery and meaning in the gift of our lives and our cosmos. It taps into creativity and into selfless action. It leads to a relationship with a presence greater than ourselves. Some would claim this is spirituality rather than religion, but spirituality without roots in a good theological matrix often reaffirms the narcissism in which our society is currently mired. In our western society the origins of hospitals, schools and social services can all be traced back to the efforts of people grounded in a deep relationship with a God of love. Much poetry, art, drama and great literature grapples with the deeper meaning of life in dialogue with a vision bigger than, and yet discovered through, the everyday challenges of our lives.
Of course it matters greatly how we understand this presence, this mystery at the heart of life. But the religious urge can re-emerge as nationalism, racism, greed, or narcissism, and these have no inherent counter force to question their authenticity. The truths at the base of great religions reorient us towards love, peace and justice. Maybe we dismiss religion at our peril.
Christine Burke is a Loreto sister, currently based in the Philippines. She has a background in theology and adult faith education, and did her doctoral studies on the interface between secular society and the Christian faith.