Low Key Religion

by Sylvie Shaw

Journalist Barney Zwartz (2011), on the website The Media Project, has stated that 'Australians are much more low-key about their religion' than the U.S. In America, he says, 40% of people are church attendees, whereas in Australia it is around 9%. He makes this comment in consideration of the limited number of journalists in Australia who are responsible for reporting religious issues.

However, the ABC, especially Radio National, covers religion in multiple ways: through its online site - Religion and Ethics as well as several radio programs including Sunday Nights with John Cleary (on 612 in Brisbane), and Encounter and The Spirit of Things on Radio National, and Sunday Night Safran on JJJ.

Coupled with the mainstream media's approach to religion reporting, is the attitude towards teaching religion education in schools. At the moment in Queensland, the subject, which covers religions of the world, is taught in private schools with, as far as I know, only one state school having a similar world religions' approach to religion teaching.

In early March this year, ABC News (Bennett 2012) reported on a case before Victoria's Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) which focused on the right of school students not to have to attend religious education classes. The case brought by parents, questions the policy of the State Education Department towards RE (broadly defined). As they do not want their children involved in RE classes, the students can opt out, but, the parents claim, there is no provision for effective secular education alternatives for that period. The parents argue this approach is discriminatory.

Reflections
What do you think is the problem here?
- Should there be a more informed media about religion issues in Australia?
- Do you think that a course covering the diversity of world religions, including contemporary spiritualities, is important?
- Do you think there could be a relationship between knowledge and experience of an other's religion and a level of acceptance and understanding of other religious beliefs and practice?

References
Bennett J. 2012. Religious education 'discriminatory' tribunal told. ABC News, March 1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-01/religious-education-27discriminatory27-tribunal-told/3862594
Zwartz B. 2011. Ignorance, Intolerance & Religion News, The Media Project, Sept 19. http://themediaproject.org/article/religion-media-view-australia?page=0,0

Image Source
Pixabay: http://pixabay.com/en/old-book-bible-religion-ornament-15487/