A new National Church Life Survey snapshot finds widespread experiences of awe at nature and frequent gratitude among Australians, while a larger church-focused survey will explore denomination size, voting patterns and environmental concern.
84% say they feel gratitude at least several times a year, with one third experiencing weekly gratitude.
The National Church Life Survey (NCLS) is running a broader church survey covering denomination size, voting patterns and environmental engagement among congregations.
Recent NCLS data show growing attention to environmental issues in worship (38% in 2021 vs 26% in 2011) but a small decline in individual Christians saying they feel responsible to act on the environment (81% to 77%).
Survey (NCLS) released results that give a snapshot of spiritual feelings among Australians. Questions covered experiences of awe at the beauty of nature and feelings of gratitude or thankfulness.
How many Australians report awe and gratitude
Australian churches to build a fuller picture of the spiritual life of Christians and the health of the Church in Australia. That church survey will look at:
Hundreds of thousands of churchgoers and more than 22 Christian denominations are expected to participate, making the survey one of the broader efforts to map religion and practice in Australia.
Findings about environmental concern within churches
Political orientation and churchgoers
Earlier NCLS material and related reporting note that practising Christians in Australia have tended to vote for conservative parties at elections. The ongoing church survey will include questions about voting patterns to update and expand on that picture.
The public-facing part of the NCLS offers measurable data about everyday spiritual feelings—people's experiences of awe and gratitude—while the separate church survey aims to link those personal experiences with organised religion's structures and priorities. Expect more detailed outputs when the church survey completes, including denomination-by-denomination breakdowns and assessments of how churches engage with political and environmental issues.
Many Australians regularly experience awe and gratitude, and churches are increasingly including environmental themes in worship. The forthcoming NCLS church survey will supply more concrete figures about denominational size, voting tendencies and how environmental concern is treated across congregations.
A recent national survey challenges the narrative of declining religiosity in the U.S., revealing that nearly nine in 10 Americans affirm belief in God or a higher power and engage in profound, often daily, spiritual practices.
“A few months ago, a Carnarvon man walked into church for the first time and said, ‘My family has been praying for me, and I thought I’d come to church today.’…” – Here’s a short, but wonderfully encouraging, story from the Diocese of North West Australia.
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The government is consulting on plans to add RE to the national curriculum.
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