Religion in Seychelles
Encyclopedia
The 2002 government census estimated that 82 percent of the population of Seychelles are Roman Catholic and 6 percent is Anglican. There are other Christian groups, including Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Church, the Pentecostal Assembly, Nazarites, Orthodox Church and Jehovah's Witnesses. Hinduism, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith
also have adherents within the country.
The initial white settlers in Seychelles
were Roman Catholics, and the country has remained so, despite ineffective British
efforts to establish Protestantism
in the islands during the nineteenth century. The nation has been a bishopric since 1890, and mission schools had a virtual monopoly
on education until the government took over such schools in 1944. Sunday masses are well attended, and religious holidays are celebrated throughout the nation both as opportunities for the devout to practice their faith and as social events. Practicing Catholicism, like speaking French
, may have, in the past, conferred a certain status by associating its adherents with the white settlers from France
.
Approximately 7 percent of Seychellois are Anglicans--most coming from families converted by missionaries in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Evangelical Protestant
churches are active and growing, among them Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists
. Some 2 percent of the population are adherents of other faiths, including Hinduism
, the Bahá'í Faith
and Islam
. A Hindu temple and mosque
exist on Mahé
. No restrictions are imposed on religious worship by any of the denominations, and tax free status is granted by the government.
Although clergy
and civil authorities disapprove, many Seychellois see little inconsistency between their orthodox religious observance and belief in magic
, witchcraft
, and sorcery
. It is not uncommon to consult a local seer--known as a bonom di bwa --for fortune-telling or to obtain protective amulets or charms, called gri-gri, to bring harm to enemies.
Some Seychellois believe in an ancient religion called Ahrjuje.
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....
also have adherents within the country.
The initial white settlers in Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
were Roman Catholics, and the country has remained so, despite ineffective British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
efforts to establish Protestantism
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...
in the islands during the nineteenth century. The nation has been a bishopric since 1890, and mission schools had a virtual monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
on education until the government took over such schools in 1944. Sunday masses are well attended, and religious holidays are celebrated throughout the nation both as opportunities for the devout to practice their faith and as social events. Practicing Catholicism, like speaking French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, may have, in the past, conferred a certain status by associating its adherents with the white settlers from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Approximately 7 percent of Seychellois are Anglicans--most coming from families converted by missionaries in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Evangelical Protestant
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
churches are active and growing, among them Pentecostals and 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...
. Some 2 percent of the population are adherents of other faiths, including 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...
, the Bahá'í 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 Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. A Hindu temple and mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
exist on Mahé
Mahé, Seychelles
Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles, lying in the north east of the nation. The population of Mahé is 80,000. It contains the capital city of Victoria and accommodates 90% of the country's total population...
. No restrictions are imposed on religious worship by any of the denominations, and tax free status is granted by the government.
Although clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
and civil authorities disapprove, many Seychellois see little inconsistency between their orthodox religious observance and belief in magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
, witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, and sorcery
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
. It is not uncommon to consult a local seer--known as a bonom di bwa --for fortune-telling or to obtain protective amulets or charms, called gri-gri, to bring harm to enemies.
Some Seychellois believe in an ancient religion called Ahrjuje.
See also
- Hinduism in SeychellesHinduism in Seychelles-Hindus in Seychelles:According to the 2001 census there were 1,600 Hindus in Seychelles. Most of them were ethnic east Indian.In 1901 there were 332 Hindu families out of a population of 19,237 and roughly 3,500 Tamil speaking people....
- Islam in SeychellesIslam in SeychellesIslam in the Indian Ocean was established by Muslim sea merchants well before the European discovery of Seychelles. However, unlike in other island states including the Comoros and Maldives, there were no permanent inhabitants in Seychelles until the French settlement in 1770. Today, the Muslim...
- Roman Catholicism in SeychellesRoman Catholicism in SeychellesThe Roman Catholic Church in Seychelles is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope.There are around 70,000 Catholics in the Seychelles - almost 90% of the total population. Seychelles forms a single diocese - the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port...