According to the 2002 census, 27. 1 percent of the population of Benin is Roman Catholic, 24. 4 percent Muslim, 17. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. 3 percent Vodun, 5 percent Celestial Christian, 3. Dahomey mythology|Yoruba mythology Vodun or Vudun (vodṹ — that is with a nasal u on a high tone) (so The Celestial Church of Christ is an African Initiated Church founded by Samuel Bilehou Oshoffa in 1947 2 percent Methodist, 7. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations 5 percent other Christian, 6 percent other traditional local religious groups, 1. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings See also Religion in Africa African traditional religions, also referred to as African indigenous religions or African 9 percent other religious groups, and 6. 5 percent claim no religious affiliation. ^[1]

There are Christians, Muslims, and adherents of traditional local religious groups throughout the country. ^[1] However, most adherents of the traditional Yoruba religious group are in the south, while other local religious beliefs are followed in the north. ^[1] Muslims are represented most heavily in the north and southeast. ^[1] Christians are prevalent in the south, particularly in Cotonou, the economic capital. Cotonou is the economic capital of Benin, as well as its largest city ^[1] It is not unusual for members of the same family to practice Christianity, Islam, traditional local religious beliefs, or a combination of all of these. ^[1]

Contents 1 Faiths 1.1 Christianity 1.2 Islam 1.3 Other groups 2 Freedom of religion 3 References

Faiths

Christianity

Christianity first reached Benin in 1680, gaining more permanent footing in 1861. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings English Methodists arrived in 1843, operating amongst the coastal Gun people. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common More than half of all Christians in Benin are Catholic. ^[1] The Catholic hierarchy in Benin consists of the Archdiocese of Cotonou (including the Dioceses of Abomey, Dassa-Zoumé, Lokossa, Porto Novo) and the Parakou (including the Dioceses of Djougou, Kandi, Natitingou, and N'Dali). The Roman Catholic Diocese of Abomey { Latin: Abomeien(sis } is a Diocese located in the city of Abomey in the Ecclesiastical province The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dassa-Zoumé { Latin: Dassan(us–Zumen(sis } is a Diocese located in the city of Dassa-Zoumé in the Ecclesiastical The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lokossa { Latin: Lokossaën(sis } is a Diocese located in the city of Lokossa in the Ecclesiastical province The Roman Catholic Diocese of Porto Novo { Latin: Portus Novi } is a Diocese located in the city of Porto Novo in the Ecclesiastical province The Roman Catholic Diocese of Djougou { Latin: Diuguen(sis } is a Diocese located in the city of Djougou in the Ecclesiastical province The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kandi { Latin: Kandin(us } is a Diocese located in the city of Kandi in the Ecclesiastical province of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Natitingou { Latin: Natitinguen(sis } is a Diocese located in the city of Natitingou in the Ecclesiastical The Roman Catholic Diocese of N’Dali { Latin: Ndalien(sis } is a Diocese located in the city of N’Dali in the Ecclesiastical province There are 440 priests and 900 men and women in religious orders. A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Other Christian groups include Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Celestial Christians, Rosicrucians, the Unification Church. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The World Assemblies of God Fellowship, or Assemblies of God for short is the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with over 283413 churches and outstations Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination The Celestial Church of Christ is an African Initiated Church founded by Samuel Bilehou Oshoffa in 1947 The term Rosicrucian (symbol the Rose Cross) describes a secret society of mystics allegedly formed in late mediaeval Germany, holding a doctrine "built on The Unification Church is a New religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. ^[1] Many nominal Christians also practice traditional local religious beliefs. ^[1]

Islam

Islam was brought to Benin from the north by Arab, Hausa, and Songhai-Dendi traders. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Nearly all Muslims adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic ^[1] The few Shi'a Muslims are primarily Middle Eastern expatriates. ^[1] Many nominal Muslims also practice traditional local religious beliefs. ^[1]

Other groups

Other religious groups in Benin include Eckankar and Baha'is. Eckankar is a New religious movement that focuses on spiritual exercises enabling practitioners to experience what its followers call "the Light and Sound of God The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind ^[1]

Among the most commonly practiced local religious beliefs is the animist Vodun system of belief, also known as voodoo, which originated in this area of Africa. Dahomey mythology|Yoruba mythology Vodun or Vudun (vodṹ — that is with a nasal u on a high tone) (so ^[1]

Freedom of religion

Main article: Freedom of religion in Benin

The Constitution of Benin provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion and the Government generally respected this right in practice The Constitution of Benin was adopted by referendum on 2 December 1990. Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance ^[1] The United States government recorded no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice during 2007, and prominent societal leaders have taken positive steps to promote religious freedom. ^[1]

References

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