Religion in Belize
Encyclopedia
According to the 2000 census, Roman Catholics constitute 49.6% of the population of Belize; Protestants
constitute 29% (Pentecostals
7.4 percent, Anglicans
5.3 percent, Seventh‑day Adventists
5.2 percent, Mennonite
s 4.1 percent), Baptists 3.5 percent, and Methodists
3.5 percent. There are approximately 6,000 Nazarenes and modest numbers of Hindus, Baha'is, Buddhists, Jehovah's Witnesses, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Muslims, Rastafarians, and Salvation Army members. Except for the Mennonites and Pentecostals, who live mostly in the rural districts of Cayo and Orange Walk, members of these groups tend to live in Belize City. Catholics are numerous throughout the country and constitute the majority in all but two of the country's six districts, Belize and Cayo, where they represent a plurality of the population. Approximately 10 percent of citizens identify themselves as nonbelievers or members of no religious congregation.
Belizean Roman Catholic churches belong to the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan
; Anglican churches belong to the Diocese of Belize
, part of the Church in the Province of the West Indies
.
Hinduism
is followed by most Indian immigrants, while Islam
is common among Middle Eastern immigrants and has gained a following among some Kriols. Catholics frequently visit the country for special gospel revivals. The Greek Orthodox Church
has a presence in Santa Elena. Jehovah's Witnesses have experienced a significant increase in membership in recent years. According to the Witnesses, around 3% of the population attended at least one religious meeting in 2007. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims 3,300 members in the country
The Constitution of Belize
provides for freedom of religion
, and other laws and policies contribute to the generally free practice of religion. The Government at all levels protects this right in full against abuse, either by governmental or private actors. The Government generally respects religious freedom in practice. In 2008, the U.S. government received no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
constitute 29% (Pentecostals
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
7.4 percent, Anglicans
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
5.3 percent, Seventh‑day Adventists
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
5.2 percent, Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
s 4.1 percent), Baptists 3.5 percent, and Methodists
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
3.5 percent. There are approximately 6,000 Nazarenes and modest numbers of Hindus, Baha'is, Buddhists, Jehovah's Witnesses, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Muslims, Rastafarians, and Salvation Army members. Except for the Mennonites and Pentecostals, who live mostly in the rural districts of Cayo and Orange Walk, members of these groups tend to live in Belize City. Catholics are numerous throughout the country and constitute the majority in all but two of the country's six districts, Belize and Cayo, where they represent a plurality of the population. Approximately 10 percent of citizens identify themselves as nonbelievers or members of no religious congregation.
Belizean Roman Catholic churches belong to the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in North America. The diocese comprises the entirety of the former British dependency of Belize...
; Anglican churches belong to the Diocese of Belize
Anglican Diocese of Belize
The Anglican diocese of Belize was established in 1891. The current bishop is the Right Revernd Philip Wright.-References:...
, part of 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...
.
Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
is followed by most Indian immigrants, while Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is common among Middle Eastern immigrants and has gained a following among some Kriols. Catholics frequently visit the country for special gospel revivals. The Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
has a presence in Santa Elena. Jehovah's Witnesses have experienced a significant increase in membership in recent years. According to the Witnesses, around 3% of the population attended at least one religious meeting in 2007. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims 3,300 members in the country
The Constitution of Belize
Constitution of Belize
The Constitution of Belize is the supreme law of the nation of Belize. It was signed in September 1981 with effect from that date.- Structure :...
provides for freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
, and other laws and policies contribute to the generally free practice of religion. The Government at all levels protects this right in full against abuse, either by governmental or private actors. The Government generally respects religious freedom in practice. In 2008, the U.S. government received no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in BelizeRoman Catholicism in BelizeThe Roman Catholic Church in Belize is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in Rome. Bishops in Belize are members of the Antilles Episcopal Conference....
- Mennonites in BelizeMennonites in BelizeAs of 2008, there are close to 10,000 conservative Prussian Mennonites living in Belize. In addition to this there are another 2,000 mostly Kriol and Mestizo Belizeans who have converted to Mennonitism. Mennonites living in Belize are among the most traditional and conservative amongst all the...
- Hinduism in BelizeHinduism in BelizeThe origins of Hinduism in Belize date to 1857 when three thousand East Indians migrated from Jamaica to Belize. People from the Indian subcontinent, Hindus and Muslims, continued to arrive in Belize during the 19th century to work as indentured labourers on sugar cane plantations.The Hindu...
- Islam in BelizeIslam in BelizeThe statistics for Islam in Belize estimate a total Muslim population of 2,794, representing 1 percent of the total population. The Muslim community is led by the Islamic Mission of Belize headquartered in Belize City.-Sources:...