Study of Religion: Home

Click here to be directed to the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils. "Buddhism is one of the world’s largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana."

Click here to be directed to the Hindu Council of Australia. "Hinduism is a major world religion originating on the Indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual."

Click here to be directed to the Islam Australia site. "Islam began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad. Those who follow Islam are called Muslims. Muslims believe that there is only one God. The Arabic word for God is Allah."

Click here to be directed to the Australian Jewish Association. "Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions and was founded over 3500 years ago in the Middle East. Jews believe that God appointed the Jews to be his chosen people in order to set an example of holiness and ethical behaviour to the world."

"The Church consists of 23 Dioceses across Australia, led by a Diocesan Bishop supported by a team of clergy and lay people. Prayer and worship happens in parishes – and these range from large metropolitan congregations to small remote communities who come together to live the faith. "

"Australian Baptists are a multi-cultural and multi-generational movement of people serving communities in metropolitan, regional, coastal, rural and remote Australia through a network of over 1000 churches. We declare that Jesus Christ is Lord! This confession is the foundation of our unity as a movement of churches, supplemented by our shared Biblical beliefs and practices for congregational life, Christian living, and outreach."

"The Catholic Church in Australia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual and administrative leadership of the Holy See. The first Catholics to reside in Australia arrived with the First Fleet in 1788. They were mostly Irish convicts, together with a few Royal Marines. One-tenth of all convicts transported to Australia were Catholic, and half of these were born in Ireland, while a good proportion of the others were English-born but of Irish extraction."

"The Lutheran Church was established in South Australia in 1838 by German emigrants from Prussia who came because of religious persecution. Although this persecution ceased in the mid-1840s, many more Germans followed, seeking the better life that the first migrants reported to them."

"The Salvation Army Australia is an international Christian movement, united by faith and giving hope where it’s needed most. Across Australia – in cities, country towns and rural communities – our work touches every demographic and age group. We’re involved in national issues while also bringing hope to people who may be experiencing hardship or injustice."

"The Uniting Church is the third largest Christian denomination in Australia and the first church to be created in and of Australia. On any Sunday more than 2,500 congregations worship at a Uniting Church including many congregations that worship in languages other than English."

"The Orthodox Christian presence was felt when the Australian gold rushes began in 1851, when New South Wales and Victoria became “a migratory vortex” so that many Greeks from islands such as Kerkyra and Kefalonia deserted their vessels that had anchored in these states in order to make a living ‘down under.’ Evidence is sparse,but given the almost ubiquitous practice—especially over a century ago—of Greeks baptising their children into Orthodoxy for either religious or cultural reasons, it can safely be assumed that these were Orthodox Christians. We also have census records of Greek women from 1857 who are described as belonging to the “Greek Church,” which, of course, can only be the Orthodox Church."