Religion in Honduras
Encyclopedia
The prehispanic people that lived in actual Honduras were politeist,they were the Maya people and other groups, in the XVI century came the Chrisianism.
was an imporant religion in Copan (Honduras), between fourth and seventh century.
by Christopher Columbus
. Since then, the Spanish took charge inculcating the catholic faith among the Honduran natives.
, Lutheran, Jehovah's Witness, Mennonite
approximately 300 evangelical Protestant groups, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).
Nowadays the catholic church in Honduras
is composed by eight dioceses: Tegucigalpa
, Comayagua
, Choluteca
, Olancho, Yoro
, San Pedro Sula
, Trujillo
and Copán
which are a part of the Conference Espiscopal of Honduras
.
Other religions like the diverse Protestant churches are structured by three confederacies: The Shepherds' Association of Honduras, the Evangelical Brotherhood of Honduras and the Apostolic Network of Honduras.
In recent years, both the Roman Catholic Church
, and a big number of subdivisions of the catholic church as well as the Protestant churches, especially the Pentecostal denominations, have experienced an important growth in the number of new parishioners. This is perhaps, the result of the progress in routes of communication, which allows the Catholic church as well as the evangelicals to make useful time of the T.V. stations, radio, newspapers, universities and Internet pages.
In June, 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that it would build a temple in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, making it one of the six LDS temples in Central America.
The most prominent evangelical churches include the Abundant Life, Living Love, and Great Commission Churches. A growing number of evangelical churches have no denominational affiliation. The National Association of Evangelical Pastors represents the evangelical leadership. There are small numbers of Muslims
and Jews
. San Pedro Sula
has a mosque and a synagogue, and Tegucigalpa
has a synagogue.
. In a 2007 nationwide survey, CID-Gallup reported that:
47 percent of respondents identify themselves as Roman Catholics
,
36 percent as evangelical Protestants
,
and 17 percent either provide no answer or consider themselves "other".
Ancient Religions
Maya religionMaya religion
The traditional Maya religion of western Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico is a southeastern variant of Mesoamerican religion. As is the case with many other contemporary Mesoamerican religions, it results from centuries of symbiosis with Roman Catholicism...
was an imporant religion in Copan (Honduras), between fourth and seventh century.
Post-Colonial Religion
The first catholic mass celebrated in continental American territory was carried out on August 14, 1502 in Punta Caxinas, which was two weeks after the discovery of HondurasHonduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
by Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
. Since then, the Spanish took charge inculcating the catholic faith among the Honduran natives.
Independence and Freedom of religion
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributes to the generally free practice of religion. The law at all levels protects this right in full against abuse, either by governmental or private actors. The Government generally respects religious freedom in practice. In 2008, the US Government received no reports of societal abuses or discrimination in Honduras based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.Twentieth Century
The principal religious groups are Catholic, EpiscopalEpiscopal 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...
, Lutheran, Jehovah's Witness, Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
approximately 300 evangelical Protestant groups, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).
Nowadays the catholic church in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
is composed by eight dioceses: Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, Comayagua
Comayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
, Choluteca
Roman Catholic Diocese of Choluteca
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Choluteca is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa. It was elevated on 29 August 1979.-Ordinaries:*Marcel Gérin y Boulay, P.M.E....
, Olancho, Yoro
Yoro
Yoro is the capital city of the Yoro department of Honduras....
, San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
, Trujillo
Trujillo, Colón
Trujillo is a city and a municipality on the northern Caribbean coast of the Honduran department of Colón, of which the city is the capital. The municipality has a population of about 30,000 . The city is located on a bluff overlooking the Bay of Trujillo. Behind the city rise two prominent...
and Copán
Copán
Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It was the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD...
which are a part of the Conference Espiscopal of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
.
Other religions like the diverse Protestant churches are structured by three confederacies: The Shepherds' Association of Honduras, the Evangelical Brotherhood of Honduras and the Apostolic Network of Honduras.
In recent years, both the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, and a big number of subdivisions of the catholic church as well as the Protestant churches, especially the Pentecostal denominations, have experienced an important growth in the number of new parishioners. This is perhaps, the result of the progress in routes of communication, which allows the Catholic church as well as the evangelicals to make useful time of the T.V. stations, radio, newspapers, universities and Internet pages.
In June, 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that it would build a temple in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, making it one of the six LDS temples in Central America.
The most prominent evangelical churches include the Abundant Life, Living Love, and Great Commission Churches. A growing number of evangelical churches have no denominational affiliation. The National Association of Evangelical Pastors represents the evangelical leadership. There are small numbers of Muslims
Islam in Honduras
The statistics for Islam in Honduras estimate a total Muslim population of 11,000 representing 0.1 percent of the population. Although there are no official statistics, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 200,000 of the country's seven million inhabitants are of Arab descent, and of these, the...
and Jews
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
has a mosque and a synagogue, and Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
has a synagogue.
Statistics
There are no reliable government statistics on religious affiliation in HondurasHonduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. In a 2007 nationwide survey, CID-Gallup reported that:
47 percent of respondents identify themselves as Roman Catholics
Roman Catholicism in Honduras
The Roman Catholic Church in Honduras is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome....
,
36 percent as evangelical Protestants
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:...
,
and 17 percent either provide no answer or consider themselves "other".