Liberia - Religion
The US government estimates the total population at 31.6 million (July 2015 estimate). According to the 2011 census, Hindus constitute 81.3 percent of the population, Buddhists 9 percent, Muslims (the vast majority of whom are Sunni) 4.4 percent, and Christians (the vast majority of whom are Protestant) 1.4 percent. Other groups, which together constitute less than 5 percent of the population, include Kirats (an indigenous religion with Hindu influence), animists, adherents of Bon (a Tibetan religious tradition), Jains, Bahais, and Sikhs. Some Muslim leaders state Muslims constitute at least 5.5 percent of the population. Some Christian groups state Christians constitute 3 to 5 percent of the population, or approximately one to 1.5 million individuals, and others estimate up to 7 percent. Many individuals adhere to a syncretic faith encompassing elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and traditional folk practices, according to scholars.
The 2001 census identified 80.6% of the population being Hindu. Buddhism was practiced by about 11% of the population (although many people labelled Hindu or Buddhist often practice a syncretic blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, and/or animist traditions). About 3.2% practice Islam and 3.6% of the population follows the indigenous Kirant religion. Christianity is practiced officially by less than 0.5%.
Hindu and Buddhist traditions in Nepal go back more than two millennia. In Lumbini, Buddha was born, and Pashupatinath temple, Kathamandu, is an old and famous Shiva temple of Hindus. Nepal has several other temples and Buddhist monasteries, as well as places of worship of other religious groups. Traditionally, Nepalese philosophical thoughts are ingrained with the Hindu and Buddhist philosophical ethos and traditions, which include elements of Kashmir Shaivism, Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, works of Karmacharyas of Bhaktapur, and tantric traditions. Tantric traditions are deep rooted in Nepal, including the practice of animal sacrifices. Five types of animals, always male, are considered acceptable for sacrifice: water buffalo, goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks. Cows are very sacred animals and are never considered acceptable for sacrifice.
Several of the festivals of Nepal last from one to several days. Dashain is the longest and the most important festival of Nepal. Generally Dashain falls in late September to mid-October, right after the end of the monsoon season. It is “a day of Victory over Demons”. The Newars celebrate the festival as Mohani. Tihar or Swanti and Chhath are another important festivals of Nepal. New Year’s Day of the lunar calendar Nepal Sambat occurs at this time.
Other important festivals include Buddha Jayanti (the celebration of the birth of Buddha), Maha Shivaratri (a festival of Lord Shiva) and during Maha Shivaratri festivities, some people consume excessive drinks and smoke charas. Sherpas, mostly located at higher altitudes and in the Mount Everest region, celebrate Mani Rimdu, for the good of the world.
Most festivals include dancing and music, and a variety of foods are consumed during festivals and on special occasions. The Sagan ceremony is the ritualized presentation of five food items (boiled egg, smoked fish, meat, lentil cake and rice wine) to a person which is done to bring good fortune as per Tantric tradition.
Traditional beliefs about witchcraft negatively affected elderly rural women and widows. Shamans or other local authority figures publicly beat and physically abused alleged witches as part of an exorcism ceremony. The media and NGOs reported numerous cases of this violence. For example, on 12 July 2010, a couple was killed in Satbariya, Dang District, after a local faith healer branded them witches. Police arrested three persons, including the faith healers, in connection with the killing. Similar incidents occurred in other parts of the country. There was no government mechanism to prevent such abuses or to provide compensation to the abused.
In March 2009 residents of Pyutar village in Lalitpur District accused Kalli Biswokarma of practicing witchcraft, alleging that she cast evil spells on a teacher who had fallen ill. Villagers forcibly took Biswokarma from her home, physically abused her, and forced her to eat human feces until she confessed. Members from civil society organizations successfully rescued Biswokarma and her family from the village, although villagers protested and attempted to resist the rescue. In July 2009 villagers in Tengar beat and forced Patambari Devi Das to eat human excrement because they believed her to be a witch. According to traditional beliefs, witches lose their power after this treatment.
The new constitution adopted on 20 September 2015 establishes Nepal as a secular state and provides for the right to profess and practice one’s own religion. The constitution prohibits converting other people from one religion to another, and bans religious behavior disturbing public law and order, or behavior contrary to public health, decency, and morality. Minority religious leaders said the government did not enforce the ban on converting others, but expressed concern the ban could make religious minorities vulnerable to persecution for preaching or public displays of faith.
According to legal experts and leaders of religious minorities, the constitutional stipulation to protect the “age-old religion” was interpreted by the drafters of the constitution to mean protection of Hinduism.
Before the promulgation of the constitution in September, there were protests by groups demanding Nepal be declared a Hindu state after an amendment that would have declared this was voted down by the Constituent Assembly. To own land or operate legally as institutions, the law requires most religious organizations to register as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or non-profit organizations. Christian and Muslim groups reported difficulties in buying or using land for burials. Most religious organizations said, in general, they were able to operate freely. Tibetan Buddhists said they were generally allowed to hold private religious celebrations; Muslims said they were able to participate in the Hajj; and Christian groups reported Christian missionary hospitals and welfare organizations continued to operate without government interference. The government continued to permit Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim groups to operate community schools. Catholic and Protestant groups had to register as NGOs to operate private schools; some Protestant schools reported obstacles to renewing their licenses.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
