Religion in Peru
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According to the 1993 Census, 23% of the Peruvian population over 12 years old declared themselves as Catholics, 6.7% as Evangelicals, 2.6% as of other denominations, 1.4% as non-religious and 0.2% did not specify any affiliation.[1]
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[edit] Catholic Church in Peru
Most Peruvians are Catholics, although only two-thirds participate in the liturgy and services. The main authorities of this church are in Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo and Cusco. The most important celebration is in honour of the Lord of Miracles. There are also October festivities in Lima.
[edit] Popular celebrations
Popular celebrations are the product of every towns' traditions and legends. These celebrations gather music, dances, meals and typical drinks. In addition to the religious celebrations like Christmas, Corpus Christi or Holy Week, there are others that express the syncretism of the indigenous peoples' beliefs with Christianity. For example, there is the Alasitas (an Aymara word that, according to some studious people, would mean «buy me») that combines crafts and miniatures fair with dances, meals and a mass. Another example is the peregrination of the Qoyllur Rit'i (Cuzco), that gathers the ancient cult to the apus (tutelary divinities of the mountains) with a peregrination to a Christian Sanctuary in a long trek to the top of a mountain, of more than 5000m above sea level, that is covered with snow. More than 6,000 people make this trek every year, although not all of them come back
Most Andean people believe in their Inca religion though non census has ever been made of this truth. Afro-Peruvian's also practice non-western religions yet no census covers this fact.
[edit] Other Religions
[edit] Seventh Day Adventists
There are currently 769,980 Seventh Day Adventist members in Peru split into 2 conferences, according to the church website. This would represent 2.6% of the current population.
[edit] Latter-day Saints
Mormon missionaries first arrived in Peru in 1956. In 1981, the Lima Peru Temple was dedicated.
The church has seen rapid growth in Peru. In 2008 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claimed more than 460,000 members in Peru.[2]
[edit] Islam
The statistics for Islam in Peru estimate a total Muslim population of 1000, representing 0.002 percent of the population. The religion came to Peru by Middle Eastern settlers: Arabs and Iranians. There are a handful of Islamic organizations in Peru. The first mosque in Peru was constructed in Tacna.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática, Perfil sociodemográfico del Perú. http://www.inei.gob.pe/biblioineipub/bancopub/Est/Lib0007/ANX-PER/PERU-02.htm.
- ^ LDS Newsroom
Musulmanes peruanos. Sufismo en Perú
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