In this bonus series we’ll look at the increasing
presence of Islam in Australia, and keep you posted with factual developments.
Let’s begin with Australia’s Christian heritage:
On 14 May 1606, Captain Pedro Fernandez de
Quiros, a Portuguese explorer in command of a Spanish fleet navigated by Luis
Vaez de Torres, declared: “Let the heavens, the earth…and all those here
present witness that.… in the name of Jesus Christ…whereon He gave His life for
the ransom and remedy of the human race, I take possession of all this part of
the South as far as the pole in the name of Jesus….which from now on shall be called
the Southern land of the Holy Ghost…and this always and forever…to the end that
to all natives, in all the said lands, the holy, the sacred evangel may be
preached zealously and openly.”
The safe arrival in
1788 of the British First Fleet in Port Jackson was commemorated eight days later in a public sermon by chaplain
Richard Johnson on 3rd February reading from Psalm 116 verse
12: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?”
The first school in Australia was opened in 1793
in a Christian church at Sydney Cove, by chaplain Richard Johnson.Today, in both the Federal Parliament and the N.S.W. Parliament the Lord’s Prayer is offered at the commencement of each day of sitting.
The first Muslims in Australia
The first dromedary camel arrived in October 1840 for exploration and Afghan cameleers arrived with more camels in June 1860 for the disastrous Burke and Wills Expedition.
The paradox for Muslims in Australia: Freedom of Religion
Whereas according to Islam, there should be no
distinction between ‘church and state’ as in a western democracy. For a Muslim,
personal religious freedom within a secular state is a paradox to their Islamic
faith.
NEXT: Islam recognised
Photocredits: burka/heraldsun.com.au cameleers/identites.asiaeducation
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