While it is clear that institutional religion has declined in Western countries , it is equally clear that irrational beliefs and religious practices are far from dead .
- Although formal Chrisianity has declined in Australia , non-christian religions have grown . between 1971 and 2001 the proportion of all australians affiliated with a non-christian religion increased from 1 per cent to 5 per sent , especially Buddhism , Islam and Hinduism (see Figure 10.2). Most of this growth is due to changes in the country of origin of recent migrants , although the increase in Buddhism may also be due to conversion of Anglo-celtic australians , as part of the general growth in new religious movements (see next point).