Religion in Census a hot topic

Religion in Census a hot topic

Author: ABC Australia August 5, 2026 Duration: 9:54
One of the most controversial questions in next week’s census is about religious affinity.  Over the past two decades, increasing numbers of Australians say they have no religion.  In 2021, it reached 39 per cent.  But does the way the census poses the question accurately reflect religious identity?  GUEST: Dr Dorian von Freyhold from the analytics firm Compass Polling ran an experiment involving 5,000 people.

Produced by the ABC, The Religion and Ethics Report-Separate stories podcast digs into the complex and often unseen forces shaping our world. Each episode is a deep, standalone exploration of how belief, morality, and spiritual practice intersect with the headlines and the human stories behind them. We move beyond simple soundbites to present nuanced conversations and reported features that consider the ethical dimensions of power, the cultural impact of faith, and the personal search for meaning. You’ll hear from a diverse range of voices-theologians and philosophers, community leaders and activists, artists and everyday people-all contributing to a vital examination of contemporary life. This podcast doesn’t offer easy answers but instead provides the context and depth needed to understand the pivotal role of religion and ethics in Australian society and across the globe. It’s for anyone curious about the deeper currents driving conflict, compassion, and change in our communities. Tune in for thoughtful, independent journalism that treats these profound subjects with the seriousness and specificity they deserve.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Religion and Ethics Report - Separate stories podcast
Podcast Episodes
Why are rebels attacking the Catholic Church in West Papua? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:47
The Catholic Church has traditionally been sympathetic to the aspirations of West Papuans. But, over the past year, rebels in the Indonesian province of West Papua have attacked several Catholic institutions. The worst w…
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Duration: 13:04
Guardian columnist Peter Lewis has been reading the Pope's encyclical, not as an adherent of the Catholic faith but as someone who’s “proudly human”.
Ayatollah Khamenei funeral a rallying point for Iranians [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
It’s a funeral taking place over six days, five cities and two countries. Crowds have overwhelmed the streets of Iran to mourn or just watch the funeral procession for the late Ayatollah Khamenei. He and other family mem…
New and surprising data on restriction of religious practices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:07
One of the hallmarks of an authoritarian regime is severe restrictions on religious practice. But there’s also been a marked increase in religious repression by individuals, sometimes in defiance of more liberal governme…
Ayatollah Kamenei funeral a rallying point for Iranians [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:21
It’s a funeral taking place over six days, five cities and two countries. Crowds have overwhelmed the streets of Iran to mourn or just watch the funeral procession for the late Ayatollah Khamenei. He and other family mem…
Ayatollah Kamenei funeral a rallying point for Iranians [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
It’s a funeral taking place over six days, five cities and two countries. Crowds have overwhelmed the streets of Iran to mourn or just watch the funeral procession for the late Ayatollah Khamenei. He and other family mem…