Belize's Religious Diversity

Belize is home to a diverse range of religions, with almost all of them being non-native. The dominant religion is Christianity, with around 74.3% of the population adhering to one of its denominations. The single largest denomination is the Catholic Church, with about 40.1% of the population. Other major groups include Pentecostals (8.4%), Seventh-day Adventists (5.4%), Anglicans (4.7%-5%), Mennonites (3.7%-4%), Baptists (3.6%-4%), Methodists (2.9%-3%), and the Church of the Nazarene (2.8%-3%). Jehovah's Witnesses make up 1.7% of the population, while other religious groups, including Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Rastafarians, the Salvation Army, Mormons, and Baháʼís, constitute 11.2%. Approximately 15.5% of the population does not affiliate with any religion.

Belize's dominant religion is Christianity

Belize is a diverse country with a variety of cultures and languages. The dominant religion in Belize is Christianity, with about 74.3% of the population adhering to one of the Christian religions. The largest denomination is the Catholic Church, with about 40.1% of the population (129,456 adherents) in 2010, a reduction from 49.6% in 2000, 57.7% in 1991, and 61.9% in 1980. However, the absolute numbers have still risen. Belize has a larger Protestant population than any other country in Central America due to heavy British influence.

The second-largest Christian group in Belize is the Pentecostals, who made up 8.4% of the population in 2010, up from 7.4% in 2000 and 6.3% in 1991. The other major Christian groups include Seventh-day Adventists (5.4% of the population in 2010), Anglicans (4.7% in 2010, down from 6.95% in 1991), Mennonites (3.7% in 2010), Baptists (3.6%), Methodists (2.9%), and the Church of the Nazarene (2.8%). Jehovah's Witnesses make up 1.7% of the population, while other smaller Christian denominations include Baptists, Methodists, the Church of the Nazarene, and Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Constitution of Belize establishes the freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination based on religion. Religious groups are required to register with the government to operate in the country and are exempt from certain taxes. The public school curriculum includes nondenominational "spirituality" classes that introduce world religions, ethics, and morals. Most public schools are managed by Christian churches, and a few schools are run by non-Christian religious groups.

While Christianity is the dominant religion in Belize, there are also followers of other faiths, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Rastafarianism, and indigenous religions such as the Maya religion and Afro-Caribbean religions such as Garifuna religion, Obeah, and Myalism. Belize has a small population of Garífuna people, who are the descendants of escaped slaves from western Africa brought to the Caribbean by the British. Garífuna religion incorporates African and Indian mysticism, with drums playing a central role in their ceremonies and spiritual practices.

Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination

Belize, a former stronghold of the Mayan empire, first encountered Catholicism through missionaries who accompanied Spanish conquistadors in the 1520s. The more influential Catholic era took place in the 1800s with the arrival of Jesuits, who established churches throughout the territory.

The first period began in 1524 and lasted until 1707, when missionaries accompanied Spanish conquistadores among the Mayas in western Belize. Evidence of this early Catholic presence can be found near the Maya site at Xunantunich in west-central Belize, where there are remains of a primitive church building and Maya skeletons. This period also saw frequent Maya rebellions due to the system of reducciones, which involved gathering the scattered Maya into Spanish-controlled villages, resulting in a loss of freedom and increased taxes.

The second period began in 1851 with the arrival of the Jesuits, who rapidly spread mission churches throughout Belize. This era saw the construction of the first Catholic church in Belize Town, which later became the Holy Redeemer Cathedral. Other parishes were established along the coastline in Corozal, Punta Gorda, and Stann Creek, serving mestizo Catholics, Garifuna, and Maya communities.

The third period began with the appointment of the first native bishop, marking the transition to native, diocesan clergy administration of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan. This diocese was established in 1956 and was renamed the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan in 1983. It falls under the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica.

The number of Catholics in Belize has continued to grow, and the Church has established a strong presence in the country. However, there has been a rise in the number of Catholics converting to evangelical Protestantism, and an increasing proportion of Belizeans identify as having no religion. Despite these challenges, the Catholic Church remains an important part of Belize's religious landscape and continues to serve the spiritual needs of its faithful.

Protestantism is also common

Evangelical Christianity has grown quickly in Belize over the past few decades. Most of the country's Protestants are Pentecostal (8%), Seventh-Day Adventists (5%) or Anglican (4.7%). In the early 19th century, British loggers brought Anglican beliefs to the country.

Belize is home to a broad diversity of religions. Almost all of them are non-native. The Mayan religion has the best claim to indigenous origins, but many modern Mayans came to Belize from other Central American countries. Belize has many pockets of immigrant culture, each with its own spiritual traditions.

Belize's Mennonites, who make up around 3% of the population, mostly live in the Orange Walk District in the west of the country. They came out of the 16th-century Protestant reformation in Europe. They abandoned the practice of infant baptism and were ostracised from the larger church. They fled to Belize and continue to thrive there today.

Belize's constitution provides for freedom of religion, belief and worship. No religious group is a majority in any of the country's six districts.

Other religions include Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Rastafarianism, etc

Belize is a predominantly Christian country, with a small percentage of the population practising other religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Rastafarianism.

Islam

Islam is one of the smallest minority faiths in Belize, with a total Muslim population of 577, or 0.2% of the total population, according to estimates. The Islamic Mission of Belize (IMB) is headquartered in Belize City, and the fast-growing Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community has been present in the country since 2013, with a membership of about 200 across Belize. There are three mosques in the country: Masjid Noor in Belize City, and others in Belmopan and Orange Walk. The Muslim Community Primary School, recognised by the government in 1978, offers Islamic and elementary-level academic courses to Muslim and non-Muslim children. Muslims have been present in Belize since the 18th century, with activism in the 1960s leading to many converts. Islam is also common among Middle Eastern immigrants and has gained a following among some Kriols.

Hinduism

Hinduism is a minority faith in Belize, with 0.2% of the population identifying as Hindu according to the 2010 census. However, the Association of Religion Data Archives states that as of 2005, 2.0% of the population identified as Hindu. The Hindu community in Belize consists mostly of families who arrived in the 1950s, when it was still a British colony. While 3.9% of Belize's population are Indians, most of them are Christians, with only about 40% still practising Hinduism. There are two Hindu temples in Belize: the Belize Hindu Temple in Belize City, and Sukh Shanti Temple in Corozal. Hindus in Belize celebrate festivals like Diwali and Janmashtmi.

Buddhism

There is very little Buddhist activity in Belize. A group from the SGI Soka Gakkai International is active in Belize, with weekly meetings in Belize City and San Pedro.

Rastafarianism

Rastafarianism has been present in Belize since the 1930s, when it began in Jamaica. In 1991, a group of Rastafarians in the village of Bullet Tree Falls adhered to the principles of piety and protest that characterised the early movement. However, over time, individual Rastafarians in Belize sought material advantages and were flattered by the attention of tourists. The movement in Belize has been influenced by global and local cultural trends, with some adherents adopting a more romanticised and commercialised version of Rastafarianism.

The Belize Constitution grants freedom of religion

Belize is a diverse country with a range of religious groups, including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and followers of indigenous religions. The Belize Constitution grants freedom of religion, freedom to change one's religion or belief, and freedom to express one's religion in worship, teaching, practice, and observance. This means that individuals in Belize are allowed to choose and practise their religion without interference from the state. The Constitution also prohibits discrimination based on religion, ensuring that people of all faiths are treated equally.

The Constitution provides a legal framework that promotes and protects the religious rights of Belize's citizens. It acknowledges "the supremacy of God", recognising the importance of religious values in the country. The law also requires religious groups to register with the government to operate in the country, and it exempts them from certain taxes. Additionally, the Constitution ensures that prisoners' religious beliefs are respected and accommodated in jails.

The Belize Council of Churches and the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches play a significant role in the country's religious landscape. Together, they appoint a "church senator" to the Senate, who advises on how public policy affects the political positions of religious groups. This ensures that the voices of religious citizens are heard and considered in the country's decision-making processes.

The public school curriculum also reflects the country's commitment to religious freedom. It includes nondenominational "spirituality" classes that introduce students to various world religions, as well as the ethics and morals associated with them. Parents can choose to opt their children out of these classes if they wish.

The government actively engages with religious groups and has expressed its commitment to fostering tolerance for religious minorities and protecting religious freedom. It has also allowed religious leaders from different denominations to hold services at the government-owned and financed central prison.

In summary, the Belize Constitution's grant of freedom of religion is a cornerstone of the country's commitment to religious diversity and equality. This constitutional protection ensures that individuals are free to practise their faith without discrimination and that their religious rights are upheld in various aspects of society, including education and the prison system.

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