Religion in Papua New Guinea
Encyclopedia
Religion in Papua New Guinea
is predominantly Christian
with traditional animist and ancestor worship still found in some places. The courts and government in both theory and practice uphold a constitutional right to freedom of speech, thought, and belief. A large majority of Papua New Guineans identify themselves as members of a Christian church (96% in the 2000 census), however many combine their Christian faith with traditional indigenous beliefs and practices.
The 2010 Report on International Religious Freedom by the United Nations Refugee Agency states that religious participations in the country are relatively peaceful and no reports of conflict are being reported. Public schools host a religious subject once per week and representatives of Christian churches teach the lessons, and the students attend the class operated by the church of their parents' choice. Children whose parents do not wish them to attend the classes are excused. Members of non-Christian religious groups are not numerous, and they use family and group gatherings before and after school for religious lessons.
In 2010, emerging christian denominations include the Jehovah's Witnesses
and the Members Church of God International
.
The Papua New Guinea Council of Churches
members are:
There are also a number of parachurch organizations:
(perhaps 40,000), while Islam in Papua New Guinea
counts approximately 1,000 to 2,000 followers, mostly of immigrant origin.
and many have elements of ancestor worship.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
is predominantly 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...
with traditional animist and ancestor worship still found in some places. The courts and government in both theory and practice uphold a constitutional right to freedom of speech, thought, and belief. A large majority of Papua New Guineans identify themselves as members of a Christian church (96% in the 2000 census), however many combine their Christian faith with traditional indigenous beliefs and practices.
The 2010 Report on International Religious Freedom by the United Nations Refugee Agency states that religious participations in the country are relatively peaceful and no reports of conflict are being reported. Public schools host a religious subject once per week and representatives of Christian churches teach the lessons, and the students attend the class operated by the church of their parents' choice. Children whose parents do not wish them to attend the classes are excused. Members of non-Christian religious groups are not numerous, and they use family and group gatherings before and after school for religious lessons.
Christianity
The 2000 census percentages were as follows:- Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe 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...
(27.0%) - Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New GuineaEvangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New GuineaThe Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea is a Protestant church denomination located in Papua New Guinea that professes the Lutheran branch of the Christian faith...
(19.5%) - United ChurchUnited Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon IslandsThe United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands is a merged denomination dating from 1968 consisting of the former London Missionary Society , the relatively marginal Presbyterian church and the Methodist mission The United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands is a...
(11.5%) - Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
(10.0%) - PentecostalPentecostalismPentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
(8.6%) - EvangelicalEvangelicalismEvangelicalism 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:...
Alliance (5.2%) - Anglican Church of Papua New GuineaAnglican Church of Papua New GuineaThe Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea became a discrete province of the Anglican Communion when the Anglican Province of Papua New Guinea was separated from the Anglican ecclesiastical Province of Queensland, Australia, in 1976 following Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia in 1975. Its...
(3.2%) - BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
(0.5%) - Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
(0.2%) - Other Christian (10%
- Jehovah's WitnessesJehovah's WitnessesJehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
(0.4%) - Church of ChristChurch of ChristChurches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
(0.4%)
In 2010, emerging christian denominations include the Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
and the Members Church of God International
Members Church of God International
The Members Church of God International is an independent Christian organization with headquarters in the Philippines. The Church of God International is colloquially known through its flagship international television program, Ang Dating Daan...
.
The Papua New Guinea Council of Churches
Papua New Guinea Council of Churches
The Papua New Guinea Council of Churches is a Christian ecumenical council in Papua New Guinea.The Council has four major programs:*Social Concerns Desk*Women’s Desk*Theological programs*Administration.Its members comprise:...
members are:
- Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
- Gutnius Lutheran Church (Missouri SynodLutheran Church - Missouri SynodThe Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
) - Union Baptist
- Roman Catholic Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
- United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
- Salvation Army
There are also a number of parachurch organizations:
- The Summer Institute of Linguistics is a missionary institution drawing its support from conservative evangelical Protestant churches in the United States and to a lesser extent Australia; it translates the Bible into local languages and conducts extensive linguistic research.
- Young Women's Christian AssociationYoung Women's Christian AssociationYoung Women's Christian Association or YWCA or YWCA Building or Old YWCA Building or variations may refer to:*World YWCA, the organization formerly known as Young Women's Christian Associationor it may refer to:...
Other religions
Minority religions include Bahá'íBahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
(perhaps 40,000), while Islam in Papua New Guinea
Islam in Papua New Guinea
Islam in Papua New Guinea is a minority religion; the US department of state estimates that there are about 2,000 Muslims in the country.-History:...
counts approximately 1,000 to 2,000 followers, mostly of immigrant origin.
Traditional religions
Traditional religions are often animistAnimism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
and many have elements of ancestor worship.
External links
- Islamic Society of Papua New Guinea
- Anglican history in Papua New Guinea - primary texts Jebens reports on his comparative anthropolical study of two forms of Christianity, i.e. Roman Catholics and Seventh-day Adventists, in the PNG village of Pairundu.