Religion in South Sudan
Encyclopedia
Religious beliefs in South Sudan
tend to mostly include those adhering to traditional religions, although a Christian
minority exists, according to the BBC.
Religions followed by the South Sudanese include traditional indigenous religions, Christianity, and Islam. Scholarly and U.S. Department of State
sources state that a majority of southern Sudanese maintain traditional indigenous (sometimes referred to as Animist
) beliefs with those following Christianity in a minority (albeit an influential one). According to the Federal Research Division of the US Library of Congress: "in the early 1990s possibly no more than 10 percent of southern Sudan's population was Christian". At early 1990´s official records of Sudan claimed that from population of whole Sudan 17% are traditional religions and 8% Christians (both located mainly in the south, but also at Khartoum), with no obvious reason to prefer traditional religions over Christians. From what we can tell, from other parts of Africa, there's mixing of traditional and Christian elements, with no clear distinction between the two. How widespread mixing is, is unknown. However, some news reports claim a Christian majority, and the US Episcopal Church
claims the existence of large numbers of Anglican adherents
from the Episcopal Church of the Sudan
: 2 million members in 2005. According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, the Catholic Church is the single largest Christian body in Sudan (2.7 million Catholics), with strength concentrated in the new nation, South Sudan. Since mid-2000, it has grown to over 3 million.
Speaking at Saint Theresa Cathedral in Juba, South Sudanese President Kiir, a Roman Catholic, stated that South Sudan would be a nation which respects the freedom of religion
.
Amongst Christians, most are Catholic and Anglican, though other denominations are also active, and animist beliefs are often blended with Christian beliefs.
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
tend to mostly include those adhering to traditional religions, although a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
minority exists, according to the BBC.
Religions followed by the South Sudanese include traditional indigenous religions, Christianity, and Islam. Scholarly and U.S. Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
sources state that a majority of southern Sudanese maintain traditional indigenous (sometimes referred to as Animist
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
) beliefs with those following Christianity in a minority (albeit an influential one). According to the Federal Research Division of the US Library of Congress: "in the early 1990s possibly no more than 10 percent of southern Sudan's population was Christian". At early 1990´s official records of Sudan claimed that from population of whole Sudan 17% are traditional religions and 8% Christians (both located mainly in the south, but also at Khartoum), with no obvious reason to prefer traditional religions over Christians. From what we can tell, from other parts of Africa, there's mixing of traditional and Christian elements, with no clear distinction between the two. How widespread mixing is, is unknown. However, some news reports claim a Christian majority, and the US Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
claims the existence of large numbers of Anglican adherents
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
from the Episcopal Church of the Sudan
Episcopal Church of the Sudan
The Episcopal Church of the Sudan is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion in Sudan and South Sudan. The province consists of twenty-four dioceses, each headed by a bishop. One of the diocesan bishops is elected to serve as Archbishop of the Sudan, and represent the province to the rest...
: 2 million members in 2005. According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, the Catholic Church is the single largest Christian body in Sudan (2.7 million Catholics), with strength concentrated in the new nation, South Sudan. Since mid-2000, it has grown to over 3 million.
Speaking at Saint Theresa Cathedral in Juba, South Sudanese President Kiir, a Roman Catholic, stated that South Sudan would be a nation which respects the freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
.
Amongst Christians, most are Catholic and Anglican, though other denominations are also active, and animist beliefs are often blended with Christian beliefs.