Dear Friends
I am not a statistician nor am I a researcher.  I am, however, interested in statistics and in what researchers have to say.  I begin with this because earlier this week I found myself at the Christian Research Association's, National Roundtable which took the focus of Shaping Australia's Spirituality. Admittedly, I didn’t go to this conference with expectations that it would be an invigorating discussion or that I would return to the office quoting the various speakers.   Surprisingly my short time at this gathering was an amazing experience. 
ABC commentator, John Cleary opened the conference noting that he sees a shyness about spirituality in Australia where people don’t want to speak out.  Using the example of the pastor who gets out into the bush and meets the people where they are, John Cleary recognizes the dignity of religion as a lived experience.  He also suggested that life is beginning to move beyond ‘economics’.   Australians are looking at bigger questions, and asking “what is good?”, in an in-depth way.
 
Dr Philip Hughes and Dr Alan Black, gave a potted tour of their research contained in their new book, Spirit Matters: How making sense of life affects wellbeing. (Co-author, Peter Kaldor, was unable to be present at the conference)   Philip Hughes suggested that this research gives a picture of what is but does not determine what should be.  The research identified approaches in Australia to making sense of life and its significance:  Religious approaches – drawing predominantly on a specific religious tradition; Alternative spiritual approaches – personal spirituality which is fashioned by selecting various spiritual perspectives and practices; Mainly secular approaches- making sense of life with no reference to religious or spiritual perspectives.

The research classified Australian adults into the following groupings: reflectively Christian, uncritically Christian, Christian and New Age/Buddhist, New Age/Buddhist Spirituality, Other Known religions, Land/Nature Spirituality, Something beyond, Uncertain about the beyond and Nothing beyond.  The importance of classification lies in its recognizing religious influence and the influence of other spiritualities.  Interestingly despite the ‘doom and gloom’ often expressed about religion, “close to 3 out of 10 Australians are significantly influenced by religious thinking as they make sense of life”.

The research presented in Spirit Matters: How making sense of life affects wellbeing is certainly one way of gaining an insight into the diverse ways Australians make sense of life.  This is an essential starting point if we are to minister effectively to people in our communities.  Copies of the book are available through NCLS Research (PO Box A2178 Sydney South NSW 1235 and fax: 0292677316.

Best wishes,

Kim Davis