Religion in Barbados
Encyclopedia
According to the 2000 official census, more than 95 percent of the population of Barbados
is considered Christian
, although persons may not be active in any particular denomination
. The Anglican Church constitutes the largest religious group, with 70,000 members; an estimated 67 percent are active. The next largest group is the Seventh-day Adventists, numbering 16,000 members, 10,000 of whom are active. There are 11,000 Roman Catholics; an estimated 20 percent are active. Pentecostals number 7,000; more than 50 percent are active. Methodists number 5,000, according to church officials, although many more claimed Methodist affiliation in the previous official census; an estimated 60 percent are active. There are 2,500 members of Jehovah's Witnesses
; more than 95 percent are active. Baptists, Moravians, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are present in small numbers.
The Anglican Communion is represented by the Church in the Province of the West Indies
, within which Barbados belongs to the Diocese of Barbados.
The number of non-Christians is small. There are 4,000 Muslims
, most of whom are immigrants or descendants of Indian immigrants
from the India
n state of Gujarat. There are three mosques and an Islamic center. Other religious groups include Rastafarians, Hindus, Buddhists, members of the Baha'i Faith
. and Wiccans.
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
is considered Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, although persons may not be active in any particular denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
. The Anglican Church constitutes the largest religious group, with 70,000 members; an estimated 67 percent are active. The next largest group is the Seventh-day Adventists, numbering 16,000 members, 10,000 of whom are active. There are 11,000 Roman Catholics; an estimated 20 percent are active. Pentecostals number 7,000; more than 50 percent are active. Methodists number 5,000, according to church officials, although many more claimed Methodist affiliation in the previous official census; an estimated 60 percent are active. There are 2,500 members of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
; more than 95 percent are active. Baptists, Moravians, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are present in small numbers.
The Anglican Communion is represented by the Church in the Province of the West Indies
Church in the Province of the West Indies
The Church in the Province of the West Indies is a member province in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church comprises eight dioceses spread out over much of the West Indies area. The present position of archbishop and primate of the West Indies is held by The Most Rev. John Holder. The Most...
, within which Barbados belongs to the Diocese of Barbados.
The number of non-Christians is small. There are 4,000 Muslims
Islam in Barbados
Statistics for Islam in Barbados estimate a Muslim population of over 4000, most of whom are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from the Indian state of Gujarat...
, most of whom are immigrants or descendants of Indian immigrants
Indo-Caribbean
Indo-Caribbean people or Indo-Caribbeans are Caribbean people with roots in India or the Indian subcontinent. They are mostly descendants of the original indentured workers brought by the British, the Dutch and the French during colonial times...
from the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Gujarat. There are three mosques and an Islamic center. Other religious groups include Rastafarians, Hindus, Buddhists, members of the Baha'i Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
. and Wiccans.
See also
- Barbadian JewsBarbadian JewsThe history of the Jews in Barbados has existed almost continually since 1654, when Sephardic Jews arrived on the island as refugees from Dutch Brazil...
- Islam in BarbadosIslam in BarbadosStatistics for Islam in Barbados estimate a Muslim population of over 4000, most of whom are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from the Indian state of Gujarat...
- Methodism in Barbados
- Bahá'í Faith in BarbadosBahá'í Faith in BarbadosThe Bahá'í Faith in Barbados begins with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, in 1916 as the Caribbean was among the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to. The first Bahá'í to visit came in 1927 while pioneers arrived by 1964 and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly...