CHURCH leaders attributed a strong turnout at Easter services to people turning to religion during a time of uncertainty over economic pressures and global conflict. Brisbane-based Anglican Primate Phillip Aspinall said attendances at the Easter services had been well up.
"Maybe with the turmoil in the world, and with clashes between different cultures, people do think about what matters," he said.
"As personal pressures come on ... people start looking for what's really valuable, what counts deep down in their lives, and that puts them back in touch with their faith."
In his homily during Easter Sunday mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Cardinal George Pell emphasised the broad appeal of his faith to a standing-room only congregation.
He was applauded when he welcomed a delegation of Muslims from the group Affinity Intercultural Foundation, which he said promoted "the worthy project" of friendship between the faiths.
"Christians don't believe that Easter is for Christians only, as Catholics don't believe that Easter only brings salvation to Catholics," he said.
"It brings about the possibility of eternal life for all good people. There are many rooms in the father's house after death."
Cardinal Pell urged everyone to be "agents for the spreading of goodness" and said that God's grace was not limited by accidents of birth.
At St Andrew's Cathedral, Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen said: "Being born again is not a new idea created by an American tele-evangelist. Being born again is the phrase Jesus used to summarise Christian hope and promise."
In Melbourne, Father Tom Knowles said more than 5000 people had passed through St Francis Catholic Church. "It's grown a lot in the past few years and seems to be keeping growing," he said.
"We're really delighted with the interest and participation."
Adelaide Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson addressed packed Easter masses. He said it was "really wonderful" to see large numbers of young people attending the services.
"The moment of his resurrection was the moment of re-creation of the world with new possibilities, and those possibilities are about trying to overcome violence and bitterness and he gives us the power to do that," Archbishop Wilson said.
"It begins at the door of our own lives and every time that we make a choice to forgive or to seek reconciliation we are actually contributing to the power of peace in the world."
Australian Intercultural Society general co-ordinator Emre Celik said the invitation of Muslims to Christian churches helped break down barriers.
"It was very significant to see Muslims in the churches because they sometimes feel isolated from the Australian mainstream," he said. "This helps the wider community to accept Muslims and to overcome any misunderstanding or prejudice that may exist.
Many Muslims have little understanding of what happens inside Christian churches, so this leads to better relationships between all communities. Ignorance is our common enemy.
"The dialogue is about two communities coming together over something they have in common, a belief in one God. A lot of people don't realise that Jesus Christ is accepted as a prophet of God in the Islamic faith and it is accepted he will return to earth as a messiah.
"This weekend's events were all the more significant because next week the largest mosque in Australia, the Sunshine Mosque in Melbourne, is having an open day next Sunday. We have already had hundreds of people register. This will reciprocate what happened today."
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