Australia

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Australia}}
{{bar box
|title = Religion in Australia<ref name="census2011"/>
|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Religion |right1=Percent |float=right
|bars =
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholic]]|purple|25.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Anglican]]|blue|17.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Other Christian]]|lightblue|18.7<!-- = 61.1 – 25.3 -17.1 -->}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|pink|2.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|2.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|orange|1.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Judaism]]|brown|0.5}}
{{bar percent|Other|black|0.8}}
{{bar percent|No religion|red|22.3}}
{{bar percent|Undefined or not stated|grey|9.4<!-- = 100 – 61.1 Christian – 7.2 non-Christian – 22.3 no religion -->}}
}}
Australia has no [[state religion]]; Section 116 of the [[Australian Constitution]] prohibits the [[Federal Government of Australia|federal government]] from making any law to establish any religion, impose any religious observance, or prohibit the free exercise of any religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/religion.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806061716/http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/religion.html|archivedate=6 August 2011|title=About Australia: Religious Freedom |publisher=Dfat.gov.au |accessdate=31 December 2011}}</ref> In the 2011 census, 61.1% of Australians were counted as [[Christian]], including 25.3% as [[Roman Catholicism in Australia|Roman Catholic]] and 17.1% as [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]; 22.3% of the population reported having "[[Irreligion in Australia|no religion]]"; 7.2% identify with non-Christian religions, the largest of these being [[Buddhism]] (2.5%), followed by [[Islam]] (2.2%), [[Hinduism]] (1.3%) and [[Judaism]] (0.5%).  The remaining 9.4%<!-- = 100 – 61.1 Christian – 7.2 non-Christian – 22.3 no religion --> of the population did not provide an adequate answer.<ref name="census2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2071.0main+features902012-2013|title=Cultural Diversity In Australia |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=16 April 2013|accessdate=11 January 2013}}</ref>

Before European settlement, the animist beliefs of Australia's indigenous people had been practised for many thousands of years. Mainland [[Aboriginal Australians]]', spirituality is known as the [[Dreamtime]] and it places a heavy emphasis on belonging to the land. The collection of stories that it contains shaped Aboriginal law and customs. [[Indigenous Australian art|Aboriginal art]], story and dance continue to draw on these spiritual traditions. The spirituality and customs of [[Torres Strait Islanders]], who inhabit the islands between Australia and New Guinea, reflected their Melanesian origins and dependence on the sea. The 1996 Australian census counted more than 7000 respondents as followers of a traditional Aboriginal religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/religion/stories/s790117.htm |title=Indigenous Traditions – Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=14 December 1999 |accessdate=31 December 2011}}</ref>

Since the arrival of the [[First Fleet]] of British ships in 1788, Christianity has grown to be the major religion practised in Australia. Christian churches have played an integral role in the development of education, health and welfare services in Australia. For much of Australian history the [[Church of England]] (now known as the [[Anglican Church of Australia]]) was the largest religious affiliation. However, multicultural immigration has contributed to a decline in its relative position, and the Roman Catholic Church has benefitted from recent immigration to become the largest group. Similarly, [[Islam in Australia|Islam]], [[Buddhism in Australia|Buddhism]], [[Hinduism in Australia|Hinduism]] and [[History of the Jews in Australia|Judaism]] have all grown in Australia over the past half-century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/CO-61?opendocument&navpos=620|title=2011 Census reveals Hinduism as the fastest growing religion in Australia|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=21 June 2012|accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref>

Australia has one of the lowest levels of religious adherence in the world.<ref>[http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2008/07/04/australia-among-worlds-least-religious-countries "Australia 'among world's least religious countries'"] (23 August 2013), SBS. Retrieved 14 April 2015.</ref> It was reported in 2001 that only 7% of Australians attended church on a weekly basis.<ref>[http://www.ncls.org.au/default.aspx?docid=2250&track=82083 NCLS releases latest estimates of church attendance], National Church Life Survey, Media release, 28 February 2004.</ref>