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Religion in Seychelles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Religious Affiliation in the Seychelles (2022 Census)[1]

  Roman Catholicism (61.3%)
  Other Christian (13.6%)
  Hinduism (5.4%)
  Islam (2.4%)
  Other (5.1%)
  Not stated[a] (12.2%)
Hindu Temple in Victoria

Christianity is the majority religion in Seychelles, with Roman Catholicism being its largest denomination.[1]

The country is officially secular and its constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religious practice.

Demographics

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According to the most recent census of 2022, the majority of the population follows Christianity. Most of the Christian were Roman Catholics (61.3%). About 5% are Anglican Christians and 8.6 % follows other sects of Christianity,[1] like Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Church, Nazarites, Greek Orthodox,[2] and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Hinduism is the largest non-christian faith in Seychelles followed by 5.4% of its population.[1] Hinduism is followed mostly by the Indo-Seychellois community.

Islam is followed by 2.4% of the population.[1] There is also a small number of followers of Rastafarians, Baha’is and Brahma Kumaris.[3]

Background

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The initial 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.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4] Practicing Catholicism, like speaking French, historically conferred a certain status by associating its adherents with the settlers from France.[4]

Most Anglicans are descendants of families converted by missionaries in the late 19th and early 20th century.[4] Evangelical Protestant churches are active and growing, among them Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists.[4] A Hindu temple[5] and mosque exist on Mahé.[6] Some tax exemptions are granted to groups which are registered with the Finance Ministry.[3]

Although the clergy and the civil authorities disapprove, many Seychellois see little inconsistency between their orthodox religious observance and belief in magic, witchcraft, and sorcery.[4] 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.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Seychelles Population and Housing Census 2022". National Bureau of Statistics Seychelles. 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  2. ^ Orthodox World website
  3. ^ a b US State Dept 2022 report
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Tartter, Jean R. (1995). "Seychelles: Religion". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Indian Ocean: five island countries (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 220–221. ISBN 0-8444-0857-3. OCLC 32508646. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  5. ^ Swaminarayan Faith website
  6. ^ "Victoria mosque pulled down, makes way for new edifice". Seychelles Nation. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  1. ^ Includes Not Specified, Missing and Unable to classify- data mentioned in the Census