Religious hegemonism

Abstract

Religion and spirituality can be central to a person's identity and lived experiences (Savage & Armstrong, 2010), and yet the concepts themselves are complex and multifaceted. In Australia, three-fifths of the population (61%, or approximately 14 million people) are affiliated with some religion or spiritual belief (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2017a). Eighty-six per cent of this group (approximately 12 million) identify as Christians, comprising Catholic, Anglican and other Christian. The chapter starts with definitions and statistics to contextualise the concept of religious hegemonism within the contemporary Australian environment. The link between religion, spirituality and well-being will be explored, and personal stories of individuals from non-dominant faith backgrounds will describe their experiences. Experiential activities that encourage the reader to understand and challenge societal stereotypes, their own perceptions and gain a greater appreciation of spirituality, religion and religious hegemonism.