Chapter 39: Multicultural Religious Economies in Western Sydney

In 2017 Western Sydney is bursting with religious activity. Yet much of this activity, deemed “politically incorrect” by secularist government censorship, is excluded from local newspapers and media. Those not swayed by racism, religious prejudice or computer phobia, who pay attention to influential social media, are regularly notified of diverse religious events, activities and campaigns. This information costs nothing, and is advantageous for anyone involved in ecumenical cooperation and interfaith discussions in multicultural Greater Western Sydney. Western Sydney residents are free to visit diverse religious venues, and access accurate information about religious activities and ventures. Western Sydney is in fact a world leader in peaceful religious coexistence. One of the tools we use to achieve this remarkable level of multicultural cooperation is meaningful engagement in viable, profitable religious industries.

In the City of Parramatta, where I live, there are twenty five Christian churches, one synagogue, one mosque, and a Buddhist temple. In Greater Western Sydney the statistics are 220 churches, 5 synagogues, 5 mosques, and 3 Buddhist temples. And that's without counting Western Sydney's many football stadiums and Service Clubs as very well patronised quasi religious centres, well attended by thousands of cultish fans. As well as the four mainstream religions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, Greater Western Sydney hosts adherents of Agnosticism, Atheism, Druidism, alternative New Age religions, Wicca, Aurobindism, Masonism, Hinduism, Wahabism, Taoism, Australian Aboriginal Spirituality, Cao Daoism, Marianism, Animism, Bahaism, and countless cult-like fan groups attached to a huge variety of music and sports idols, from Palestrina to Lady GaGa and beyond. Australian music fans and gamers generally don't consider themselves religious, but take a look at what they do. Hard core Elvis fans make a pilgrimage to Graceland. Gamers who want to be taken seriously attend international gaming contests, where their insider cult knowledge and prowess can be affirmed. All over Australia, Medievalists, Cosplayers, Vintage Costumiers and Ecovillagers regularly converge on festival sites to trade and celebrate their common values and cultures. These are all religious economies.

Countless local and Australian religious industries were founded by, and are managed by, Western Sydney religious organisations. One of these industries is the sandalwood Industry of Western Australia. This stepped into a market gap left by undersupply of Indian sandalwood to religious organisations, and has since grown into an international venture that also supplies French perfumiers. Since I arrived in Western Sydney in the 1990s I've seen many religious ventures succeed and flourish. These ventures are not confined to charity Opportunity Shops such as Vinnies or the Salvos, or to volunteer staffed ventures, although this sector makes a significant contribution to the religious economy. From the well paid church architect, to the church florist, organist and sound technician, to the lady who sews and mends clergy vestments, to skilled craftspeople, musicians and artists, many religious people benefit from, and serve Greater Western Sydney communities in a socially and economically productive way. And with the current revival of Australian indigenous languages, a brand new music industry, spiritual to its core, is set to take off.