Religion in Venezuela

Christianity is the largest religion in Venezuela, with Roman Catholicism having the most adherents.

Religion in Venezuela (2011 census)[1]

  Roman Catholicism (71%)
  Protestantism (17%)
  None (8%)
  Other religion (3%)
  unknown (1%)
Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, Aragua de Barcelona, Anzoátegui, Venezuela

The influence of the Catholic Church was introduced in its colonization by Spain. According to a 2011 poll (GIS XXI), 88 percent of the population is Christian, primarily Roman Catholic (71%), and the remaining 17 percent Protestant, primarily Evangelicals (in Latin America Protestants are usually called Evangelicos). The Venezuelans without religion are 8% (atheist 2% and agnostic or indifferent 6%), almost 3% of the population follow other religion (1% of them are of santeria).[1]

There are small but influential Muslim, Druze,[2][3] Buddhist, and Jewish communities. The Muslim community of about 95,000 is concentrated among persons of Lebanese and Syrian descent living in Nueva Esparta State, Punto Fijo and the Caracas area; Venezuela also has a significant Druze community (60,000) from the same countries (a former vice president is Druze, showing the small group's influence).[2] Buddhism in Venezuela is practiced by over 52,000 people. The Buddhist community is made up mainly of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans. There are Buddhist centers in Caracas, Maracay, Mérida, Puerto Ordáz, San Felipe, and Valencia. The Jewish community numbers approximately 13,000 and is mainly concentrated in Caracas.

LDS Church (Mormons) claims 165,527 members (April 2016) mostly in and around Caracas.[4]

Venezuela is also notable for its significant syncretic religious traditions, most notably those revolving around the figures of Maria Lionza and Jose Gregorio Hernandez.

In Venezuela, a population of Santeria followers has been growing since 2008.[5] Rituals in Santeria include the slaughtering of a rooster, a chicken, or a goat.[6]

Detailed religious affiliation in Venezuela. (2011, GIS XXI)[1]
Affiliation % of Venezuela population
Christian 88 88
 
Catholic 71 71
 
Protestant and other Christians 17 17
 
Other faiths 3 3
 
Santería 1 1
 
Atheist 2 2
 
Agnostic/indifferent 6 6
 
Don't know/refused answer 1 1
 
Total100 100
 

Religious freedom

The constitution of Venezuela provides for the freedom of religion insofar as it does not violate "public morality or decency". A 2017 constitutional law criminalizes "incitement to hatred" or violence, including provisions specifically concerning the incitement of hatred against religious groups.[7]

Religious organizations must register with the government in order to obtain legal status. The Directorate of Justice and Religion, part of the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace, manages registrations, disburses funds to registered organizations, and promotes religious tolerance. Chaplain services in the military are available only for Catholics.[7]

Religious education is allowed in public schools, although it is not part of any official curriculum proposed by the government. Representatives of the Catholic Church-affiliated National Laity Council have claimed that the government has at times pressured school administrators to not teach religious courses, but that in other cases teachers had autonomy to include religious education as long as their curricula were otherwise compliant with the Ministry of Education's standards.[7]

Leaders of religious organizations who are vocal critics of the government faced harassment by pro-government groups who accused them of improperly politicizing their religious services. In some cases this harassment has escalated to violence. Jewish community leaders have accused state-funded media and some government officials of engaging in antisemitic rhetoric.[7]

See also

References
  1. Aguire, Jesus Maria (June 2012). "Informe Sociográfico sobre la religión en Venezuela" (PDF) (in Spanish). El Centro Gumilla. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. Khalifa 2013, 6-7.
  3. More Venezuelans Immigrate to Lebanon As Crisis Escalates
  4. "LDS Starics". Mormon Newsroom. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. "Santeria surges in Venezuela - World news - Venezuela | NBC News". NBC News. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  6. "Hasta 40 mil bolívares cuesta hacerse "El Santo" - Actualidad | Últimas Noticias". Ultimasnoticias.com.ve. 2012-08-28. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  7. International Religious Freedom Report 2017 § Venezuela, US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
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