Religious beliefs / edited by Justin Healey.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Ch. 1 -- Religious Trends and Tolerance -- Religions in Australia -- A summary of world religions -- Major religions of the world ranked by number of adherents -- Religious freedom -- Australia is not gods own country -- Godlessness is a growth market I believe -- Souls are not shaken just stirred -- Drop in youth religion a matter of interpretation -- God on the nose with the me generation -- New religious beliefs focus to much on ones self -- God is in the detail, including your genes -- God under the microscope -- Towards a godless Australia -- What atheists believe and what agnostics don't believe -- Do we really need religious vilification laws -- Why vilification should be against the law -- Ch. 2 -- Secularism and Faith: The Debate -- The greatest debate -- An uneasy marriage of necessity -- In God's name -- God is not responsible for war and suffering -- Humanity the loser in rigid models of rule and religion -- Christianity vital to democracy's future -- The voices of religion must be respected -- Glossary -- Fast Facts -- Web Links -- Index.

A religion is generally regarded as a set of beliefs and practices, usually involving acknowledgement of a divine or higher being or power, by which people order the conduct of their lives both practically and in a moral sense' (ABS, 2008). Australia does not have an official state religion and people are free to practice any religion they choose, within the law. Australians are also free not to have a religion. This book presents an overview of the major religions in Australia; the gradual decline in religious belief; the popular rise of evangelical youth churches; the nature and source of religious belief; religious tolerance and vilification; agnosticism and atheism; and a range of arguments in the debate between secularism and faith in our society.