Christianity is the majorityreligion inSeychelles, withRoman Catholicism being its largest denomination.[1]
The country is officially secular and its constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religious practice.
According to the most recent census of 2022, the majority of the population follows Christianity. Most of the Christian wereRoman Catholics (61.3%). About 5% areAnglican Christians and 8.6% follows other sects of Christianity,[1] likeBaptists,Seventh-day Adventists,Assemblies of God, thePentecostal Church,Nazarites,Greek Orthodox,[2] andJehovah's Witnesses.
Hinduism is the largest non-christian faith in Seychelles followed by 5.4% of its population.[1] Hinduism is followed mostly by theIndo-Seychellois community.
Islam is followed by 2.4% of the population.[1] There is also a small number of followers ofRastafarians,Baha’is andBrahma Kumaris.[3]
The initial settlers inSeychelles were Roman Catholics, and the country has remained so, despite ineffectiveBritish efforts to establishProtestantism 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 practise their faith and as social events.[4] Practising 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 bymissionaries in the late 19th and early 20th century.[4]Evangelical Protestant churches are active and growing, among themPentecostals andSeventh-day Adventists.[4] AHindu temple[5] and mosque exist onMahé.[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 orthodoxReligious Observance and belief inmagic,witchcraft, andsorcery.[4] It is not uncommon to consult a local seer – known as abonom di bwa – for fortune-telling or to obtain protectiveamulets or charms, called gri-gri, to bring harm to enemies.[4]
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