Religion in Venezuela
Encyclopedia
Venezuela
, like most South American nations, is a predominantly Catholic nation. The influence of the Catholic Church was introduced in its colonization by Spain. According to government estimates, 92 percent of the population is at least nominally Roman Catholic, and the remaining 8 percent Protestant, a member of another religion, or atheist. The Venezuelan Evangelical Council estimates that evangelical
Protestants constitute 10 percent of the population.
There are small but influential Muslim
and Jewish
communities. The Muslim community of more than 100,000 is concentrated among persons of Lebanese
and Syrian
descent living in Nueva Esparta
State, Punto Fijo
and the Caracas
area. The Jewish community numbers approximately 13,000 and is mainly concentrated in Caracas.
Venezuela is also notable for its significant syncretic religious traditions, most notably those revolving around the figures of Maria Lionza
and Jose Gregorio Hernandez
.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, like most South American nations, is a predominantly Catholic nation. The influence of the Catholic Church was introduced in its colonization by Spain. According to government estimates, 92 percent of the population is at least nominally Roman Catholic, and the remaining 8 percent Protestant, a member of another religion, or atheist. The Venezuelan Evangelical Council estimates that evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Protestants constitute 10 percent of the population.
There are small but influential Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
communities. The Muslim community of more than 100,000 is concentrated among persons of Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
and Syrian
Syrian people
The Syrian people are the inhabitants and citizens of Syria. Syrians are tied together by geography, linguistic heritage, religion, and similar Eastern Mediterranean ethnicities...
descent living in Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
State, Punto Fijo
Punto Fijo
Punto Fijo is the capital city of Carirubana Autonomy County of Falcón State, Venezuela. This city are formed for the Urban Parishes of Carirubana and Norte . Is the largest city in the Paraguaná Peninsula. Punto Fijo is located on the north-western shores of the Venezuelan state of Falcón. With a...
and the Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
area. The Jewish community numbers approximately 13,000 and is mainly concentrated in Caracas.
Venezuela is also notable for its significant syncretic religious traditions, most notably those revolving around the figures of Maria Lionza
Maria Lionza
María Lionza is the central figure in one of the most widespread indigenous religions in Venezuela. Her religion is a blend of African, indigenous, and Catholic beliefs similar to the Caribbean Santería. She is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace, and harmony...
and Jose Gregorio Hernandez
José Gregorio Hernández
José Gregorio Hernández, SFO [er-NAHN-des] was a Venezuelan physician. Born in Isnotú, Trujillo State, Venezuela, he went on to reach legendary status, more so after his death....
.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in VenezuelaRoman Catholicism in VenezuelaThe Catholic Church in Venezuela is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, curia in Rome and the Venezuelan Bishops Conference....
- Reformed Catholic Church (Venezuela)Reformed Catholic Church (Venezuela)The Reformed Catholic Church of Venezuela is a member jurisdiction of the Latin-American Anglican Church, a part of the global Orthodox Anglican Communion, and has received recognition from the Conservative Anglican Church of North America, a small United States-based group...
- Evangelical Council of VenezuelaEvangelical Council of VenezuelaThe Evangelical Council of Venezuela is an organization of evangelical mission agencies in Venezuela. Samuel Olson is president. , the council has been active in the announced expulsion of New Tribes Mission from the country.-See also:...
- Islam in VenezuelaIslam in VenezuelaThere are approximately 100,000 Muslims in Venezuela, 0.4 percent of the nation's population. Venezuela has a small but influential Muslim population, many of them Arabs of Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian descent and Turkish....
- History of the Jews in VenezuelaHistory of the Jews in VenezuelaThe History of the Jews in Venezuela dates to the middle of the 17th century, when records suggest that groups of marranos lived in Caracas and Maracaibo. The Jewish community, however, did not become established in Venezuela until the middle of the 19th century...