Practicing Religion as a New Australian Citizen

August 4th, 2010 @ admin // One Comment

One of the strongest and most divers driving forces in the social world, religion plays a major role in the lives of countless scores of people, and different beliefs, texts, rituals, and other religious elements can sometimes create conflict –though they’re also sometimes able to promote great harmony. Among the many challenges faced by immigrants in Australia, as in nearly any country in the world, religious differences can lead to individual concerns about integration and making community connections, and some religious practitioners may even be met with hostility by those of opposing views or who fail to understand the tenets of a foreign belief system. Many people feel that a large part of the importance of seeking Australian citizenship rests with the need to establish new religious ideas, services, and communities that remain permanent and involved with local communities, rather than intermittent and separated from the rest of society.

Thankfully for those interested in becoming Australian citizens, the country is notable for its considerable tolerance of foreign religious ideas and practices, and remains for the most part open to new ideas. At the same time, however immigrants who practice their religion in Australia while showing no interest in integrating with the Australian community may be frowned upon, and can face social stigma and other issues as a result. For some immigrants, the prospect of practicing personal religion in the open among Australians may be daunting, as a significant number of newcomers have faced religious persecution in other countries. Yet these newcomers are likely to discover a friendly atmosphere in Australia when they show interest in bringing other aspects of their background and ability, such as their skills and their taxes, to Australia’s national fabric.

Some immigrants are likely to find upon arriving that established religious communities already exist, themselves comprised principally of other immigrants. While joining such communities can be important in terms of gaining social support and finding common experiences among others, it is also important to branch out and interact with natives and with those hailing from other global locations, as this helps new religious communities become better understood by the local population, an element that promotes greater peace and more comfortable co-habitation. Finding welcoming, familiar faces and perspectives in a new land can greatly ease some of the challenges of immigration, but when the ultimate goal is Australian citizenship, immigrants may be better served by looking for new ways to incorporate their religious practices into their experiences with Australians themselves.

Sometimes, the difficulties of immigration and new citizenship seem to require that newcomers give up parts of their past in order to become involved in new communities. In Australia, however, immigrants can retain as much of their identity as they’d like, while taking on the new ideas and values of a country that has attracted immigrants from around the world for many years. Through bringing personal religious beliefs and practices to Australia, immigrants intent on obtaining Australian citizenship can be of great benefit to their local communities.