Religion in the Central African Republic
Encyclopedia
Though about 80 percent of the population of the Central African Republic
are Christian
s, it is believed that most of these followers incorporate traditional indigenous elements into their faith practices.
and Protestant missions are scattered throughout the territory. Islam
is practised primarily in the north. About 51 percent of the population are Protestant, another 29 percent are Roman Catholic, and 10 percent are Muslim
. Traditional indigenous beliefs are practised by about 10 percent of the population as a primary or exclusive belief system. Missionary groups within the country include Lutherans, Baptists, Grace Brethren, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
. This prohibition is generally considered to be directed toward Muslim fundamentalists. Christian holidays are celebrated as national holidays. All religious groups must be registered through the Ministry of Interior. The Unification Church
has been banned since the mid-1980s. The practise of witchcraft is considered a criminal offense, however, prosecution is generally made only in conjunction with other criminal activity, such as murder.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
are Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s, it is believed that most of these followers incorporate traditional indigenous elements into their faith practices.
Religious demography
Roman CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and Protestant missions are scattered throughout the territory. Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is practised primarily in the north. About 51 percent of the population are Protestant, another 29 percent are Roman Catholic, and 10 percent are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. Traditional indigenous beliefs are practised by about 10 percent of the population as a primary or exclusive belief system. Missionary groups within the country include Lutherans, Baptists, Grace Brethren, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Religious freedom
The constitution (suspended since 2003) provides for freedom of religion while prohibiting certain forms of religious fundamentalismFundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
. This prohibition is generally considered to be directed toward Muslim fundamentalists. Christian holidays are celebrated as national holidays. All religious groups must be registered through the Ministry of Interior. The Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
has been banned since the mid-1980s. The practise of witchcraft is considered a criminal offense, however, prosecution is generally made only in conjunction with other criminal activity, such as murder.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in the Central African RepublicRoman Catholicism in the Central African RepublicThe Roman Catholic Church in the Central African Republic is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome....
- Islam in the Central African RepublicIslam in the Central African RepublicIslam accounts for approximately 10% of the population of the Central African Republic, making it the second most followed organized religion in the country after Christianity . Most Central African Muslims live in the north, near the border with predominantly Muslim Chad. -References:...