This was first published in Evangelicals Now –
Renewed Faith Down Under?
There has been a great deal of talk about the “quiet revival” in the UK, but has it arrived in Australia?
Like the UK, there has been a lot of discussion and numerous articles and anecdotes that this is indeed the case. The statistical evidence has come through the McCrindle Research 2025 report – An Undercurrent of Faith: Australia’s Renewed Relationship with Christianity. McCrindle is an excellent research organisation with a good track record.
In summary, the report indicates that whilst the number of people affiliating with Christianity has declined from 52% in 2016 to 44% in 2021, nearly 785,000 Australians who previously identified as having “no religion” in 2016 reported Christianity as their faith in 2021.The interesting shifts are occurring at both ends of the age spectrum. Over 55s drove a lot of the movement with a 48% increase in those identifying as Christian. The research suggests that this is often tied in with personal crises like death or divorce.
Gen Z (15–24) are less likely to identify as Christian but more likely to show a higher commitment. A total of 68% of Gen Z and 70% of Gen Y Christians attend church monthly, compared to 26% of Christian Baby Boomers. Over 85,000 young people moved from “no religion” to Christianity in the same period.
McCrindle’s research indicated a growing spiritual openness, especially amongst younger people. They also surveyed why people left Christianity – 51% were disappointed in church leadership, 49% the irrelevance of Christianity. But people were also being drawn by Christian community (36%), peace and hope (33%), and care for others (30%).
The decline in cultural Christianity is countered by the rise in church attendance – from 15% to 21% over the past 15 years.
What are we to make of this? Time and eternity alone will tell, but it appears as though there is an increasing openness and a renewed commitment to Christianity amongst a growing number of younger and older people. Mark McCrindle refuses to call this ‘revival’ and instead suggests it is a steady undercurrent of renewed interest in Christianity, particularly with some specific demographic groups.
The McCrindle report is less dramatic than the National Bible Society’s one for the UK, but it certainly gives us useful opportunity and is further evidence of the fact that Christianity is not in terminal decline in the West.
David Robertson, is the minster of Scots Kirk Presbyterian Church, Newcastle NSW and blogs at http://www.theweeflea.com
The ‘Quiet Revival’ in the UK – CT
The death of a magazine: a sad sign of the decline of the Church of Scotland? EN
Do we ‘proclaim’ the truth or ‘recognise’ the truth? ‘Proclaimers’ have damaged the credibility of evangelicalism in the public eye, after so many abuse scandals involving power-sex-money. Lots of Western people may not tick the Christian census box, but to a strong degree their libertarian values are bible-derived. Maybe people are quietly recognising the truth at the minute of the three C’s (Creation-Christ-Conscience). But could there be a tendency for new converts to avoid ‘spire fund’ donations, and to contribute to helpless people in need-‘the orphan and widow’?