Thread by @therealrukshan

This video is being widely portrayed as Muslim Australians deliberately gathering to demonstrate dominance in front of a major Christian cathedral in Melbourne. However, this is not necessarily whats happening. The truth is far worse for Australia.🧵 ⤵️

As Australia’s demographics change rapidly, we will continue to see increased outward expressions of foreign cultural and religious practices in public. Sometimes, these will occur near symbols of Western culture, such as Christian churches, and at times, these practices may conflict with societal norms, which could be confronting for some.

The Muslim Australians in this video are observing a ritual practice and walking through the city of Melbourne, which happens to pass by this grand cathedral. What should concern Australia is not these displays but the fact that in many western countries, the decline in Christian religious observance has led, in some instances, to centuries-old churches being converted into mosques or temples.

This points to a broader issue that those who emphasise the Christian foundations of Australia often ignore: the decline in public religious observance and church communities in the real world, particularly among younger generations. I visit many different churches for work, and increasingly, the congregants are older or immigrant families. Even priests are sometimes flown in from overseas, as there is a decline in young people joining the priesthood, and churches are finding it difficult to fill vacancies.

The Hagia Sophia was once a Church and a beacon of the faith, but the world can rapidly change. History shows us these lessons, and today more than ever it is important to not just express faith online, but also to do it in public and at places of worship on a regular basis.