Social Cohesion in Australia: Comparing Church and Community

Pepper Pepper,Bouma Bouma,Powell Powell

doi:10.3390/rel10110605

Pepper Pepper, Bouma Bouma + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/rel10110605

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Journal: Religions	Publication Date: Nov 1, 2019
Citations: 5	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Charles Sturt University, Monash University

Abstract

In a context of increasing ethnic and religious diversity, Australia’s future prosperity may depend, in part, on the ability to maintain social cohesion. Drawing on the framework developed by the Scanlon Foundation Social Cohesion Research Program, this study examines data from the 2016 National Church Life Survey and the 2016 Australian Community Survey to compare levels of social cohesion among Australian churchgoers and among the general population. Social cohesion metrics were stronger among churchgoers than the wider population across the domains of belonging, social justice, civic participation, acceptance of others and worth. Differences were also observed between Christian denominations on most domains, but with few exceptions, social cohesion among churchgoers from each denomination was still higher than that observed for all Australians. The findings suggest that Christian groups play a positive role in the promotion of social cohesion by building both bridging and bonding social capital among those who participate, but that these groups are unlikely to be a significant source of agitation to prevent some of the greatest contemporary threats to social cohesion.

Highlights

With the global movement of people and ideas, societies have become increasingly diverse, including in terms of religious diversity (Bouma and Halafoff 2017)
The 2016 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) Attender Survey consisted of a four-page main survey of demographics, Christian faith and practice and church health, which was completed by most individual participants and a series of smaller four-page surveys, each of which was a random sample of the total participants
Churchgoers had higher levels of social cohesion in this domain when compared to all Australians (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

With the global movement of people and ideas, societies have become increasingly diverse, including in terms of religious diversity (Bouma and Halafoff 2017). Australia is one of the most multicultural nations in the world, and migration patterns continue to increase ethnic and religious diversity. In this changing context, Australia’s future prosperity may depend, in part, on the ability to maintain social cohesion. Preoccupations with social cohesion presume that internal conflict undermines the capacity of a society, group or organisation to cooperate to survive and prosper. This is evidenced in violence among elements of a society, falling standards of health and well-being, and flagging economic productivity.

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Conclusion