ABSTRACT
The last two decades have witnessed a growing interest in the role of religion and spirituality in social work practice in many countries, including places where for much of the twentieth century, social work sought to distance itself from its religious roots. In Australia, religion was intimately associated with the establishment and maintenance of social and political elites for much of the first two centuries of European colonisation. However, whereas Protestantism was associated with the ruling classes in Australia, its influence in Korea grew as nationalist movements opposed the occupation by Japan and the influx of Christian missionaries after the Korean War. In line with seeking to avoid north Atlantic Anglophone imperialism, it has been important to include contributions from a wide range of religious and spiritual traditions. Prior to the twentieth century, religious groups were the main providers of welfare services in many countries.
