Religion in Freice: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
Line 61: Line 61:
The smaller populations of non-spiritualist Christians, Qosa, and Muslims are predominantly of immigrant descent. Most Catholics, Protestants, and Baptists are of [[Riamo|Riamese]] descent, reflecting Freice's colonial past. Qosa populations come from Duujo, although there are a small number of Freician adherents. Islam, the smallest major religion in Freice, is practiced by Gassasinian immigrants.
The smaller populations of non-spiritualist Christians, Qosa, and Muslims are predominantly of immigrant descent. Most Catholics, Protestants, and Baptists are of [[Riamo|Riamese]] descent, reflecting Freice's colonial past. Qosa populations come from Duujo, although there are a small number of Freician adherents. Islam, the smallest major religion in Freice, is practiced by Gassasinian immigrants.


===Lebanese Muslims===
===Church in Freice===
{{Main|Islam in Lebanon}}
The Church in Freice is the largest Christian denomination in Freice, and is also the largest Christian spiritualist church in the country.
[[Islam in Lebanon|Lebanese Muslims]] are divided into many sects like [[Lebanese Sunni Muslims|Sunnis]], [[Lebanese Shia Muslims|Shias]], [[Alawites in Lebanon|Alawites]], and [[Ismailis in Lebanon|Ismailis]].


[[Lebanese Sunni Muslims|Lebanese Sunnis]] are mainly residents of the major cities: west [[Beirut]], [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]], and [[Sidon]]. Sunnis are also present in rural areas including [[Akkar District|Akkar]], Ikleem al Kharoub, and the western [[Beqaa Valley]].
Christian spiritualism in Freice is a hybrid of unitarian Christianity, spiritualism, and traditional Freician customs. The church recognises the Christian God as the ultimate creator and honour Jesus Christ as a non-divine prophet. As spiritualists, the church places heavy emphasis on communication with the dead, and believe that spirits continue to evolve as the living do. Consequently, spirits are an important source of moral guidance, with practitioners appealing to spirits as well as God.


[[Lebanese Shia Muslims|Lebanese Shias]] are concentrated in [[Southern Lebanon]], [[Baalbek District]], [[Hermel District]] and the south [[Beirut]] (southern parts of [[Greater Beirut]]).
The church is hierarchical in nature. The head of the Church in Freice is the Archbishop of Qx́ēkūeqe, who is elected by the Holy Council. The Holy Council is responsible for the internal government of the church, including financial and administrative management. The Church in Freice embraces three orders of ministry: priests, senior priests, and bishops. Three bishops (of Kēkńā, Gx́ērī, and Uqe'eḡriā) are responsible for overseeing the clergy of their respective diocese, with the Archbishop also serving as ex officio ''bishop'' of Qx́ēkūeqe with the same duties. Senior priests are appointed by bishops to oversee smaller areas of their diocese. Priests are the lowest form of clergy, leading congregations and being the focal point of religious observance for most adherents. The priesthood is open to women, but senior priests and bishops are exclusively male.


===Lebanese Druze===
===Lebanese Druze===

Revision as of 11:32, 5 January 2022

Religion in Freice according to the Freician Belief Survey[1][2]
  Church in Freice (61.5%)
  Spiritualists' Christian Association (13.1%)
  Spiritist Fellowship (6.7%)
  Catholicism (5.4%)
  Protestantism (2.3%)
  Qosa (3.1%)
  Other Christian (1.9%)
  Baptism (1.1%)
  Not declared (3.6%)
  Islam (0.6%)
  Other (0.7%)

Freice is an an Olivacian country that is composed of mostly Christians.[3] Uniquely in Freice, Christianity is defined by spiritualism, with spiritualist Christianity the predominant form. The two main forms of spiritualist Christianity are the Church in Freice (61.5% of the population) and the Spiritualist Christian Association (13.1%).[1] The Spiritist Fellowship is closely aligned with spiritualism but is not Christian, and accounts for 6.7% of the population.[1] Other forms of Christianity are also present, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Baptism, which are mostly practiced by immigrant communities. Likewise, Qosa and Islam are practiced by Duujo and Gassasinian communities respectively.[4]

Although Freice has no official state religion, with the promotion of a particular faith expressly prohibited by the constitution, religion continues to play an important role in politics, society, and culture. Efforts to include a broad representation of the different religious groups in politics and the economy has had a significant impact on the role of religion in government. The current prime minister of Freice, Ańiāra Neḡdx́a, is a Spiritist, the first to serve as head of government.

Religious affiliation

The last census was held in 2021, which asks respondents to declare their religious affiliation. Alongside the census, a number of official and unofficial studies are conducted, which ask people about their religious beliefts.

The 2021 census reported the following: Christian, 85.3% (61.5% Church in Freice, 13.1% Spiritualists' Christian Association, 5.4% Catholic, 2.3% Protestant, 1.9% other Christian, and 1.1% Baptist); Spiritist, 6.7%; Qosa, 3.1%; Islam, 0.6%; Not declared,3.6%; and other, 0.7%.[1]

There is some controversy over whether Spiritist Freicians constitute a separate religious group or form part of the country's Christian population. Spiritists themselves reject being labeled as Christians, although they align with many Christian practices. Official studies list them separately, although they are sometimes included in Christian numbers.

The smaller populations of non-spiritualist Christians, Qosa, and Muslims are predominantly of immigrant descent. Most Catholics, Protestants, and Baptists are of Riamese descent, reflecting Freice's colonial past. Qosa populations come from Duujo, although there are a small number of Freician adherents. Islam, the smallest major religion in Freice, is practiced by Gassasinian immigrants.

Church in Freice

The Church in Freice is the largest Christian denomination in Freice, and is also the largest Christian spiritualist church in the country.

Christian spiritualism in Freice is a hybrid of unitarian Christianity, spiritualism, and traditional Freician customs. The church recognises the Christian God as the ultimate creator and honour Jesus Christ as a non-divine prophet. As spiritualists, the church places heavy emphasis on communication with the dead, and believe that spirits continue to evolve as the living do. Consequently, spirits are an important source of moral guidance, with practitioners appealing to spirits as well as God.

The church is hierarchical in nature. The head of the Church in Freice is the Archbishop of Qx́ēkūeqe, who is elected by the Holy Council. The Holy Council is responsible for the internal government of the church, including financial and administrative management. The Church in Freice embraces three orders of ministry: priests, senior priests, and bishops. Three bishops (of Kēkńā, Gx́ērī, and Uqe'eḡriā) are responsible for overseeing the clergy of their respective diocese, with the Archbishop also serving as ex officio bishop of Qx́ēkūeqe with the same duties. Senior priests are appointed by bishops to oversee smaller areas of their diocese. Priests are the lowest form of clergy, leading congregations and being the focal point of religious observance for most adherents. The priesthood is open to women, but senior priests and bishops are exclusively male.

Lebanese Druze

Under the Lebanese political division (Parliament of Lebanon Seat Allocation) the Druze community goes along with Lebanon's Muslim community to make 50% of the parliament, despite the Druze and Muslims having very different beliefs. Most Druze do not identify as Muslims,[5][6][7][8][9] and they do not accept the five pillars of Islam.[10]

The Druze are located in the areas known as the Metn, Gharb, Chouf, Wadi-al Taym, Beirut and its suburbs, which are the modern day districts of Metn, Baabda, Aley, Chouf, Rashaya, Hasbaya and Beirut. The Druze make the majority in cities like Aley, Choueifat, Rashaya, Ras el-Matn and Baakline, while the rest of the city population is made up with different Christian sects.

Lebanese Christians

Lebanese Christians are divided into many groups, several types of Catholics for instance the Maronites and Greek Catholics (Melkites), Greek Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox (among which are Syriacs, Armenians and Copts), Church of the East (Assyrians) and Protestants.

Lebanese Maronites are concentrated in the north Beirut (northern parts of Greater Beirut), northern part of Mount Lebanon Governorate, southern part of North Governorate, parts of Beqaa Governorate and South Governorate.[11]

Greek Catholics are found everywhere but in particular in districts on the eastern slopes of the Lebanese mountain range and in Zahle where they are a majority.

Lebanese Greek Orthodox are concentrated in the north Beirut (northern parts of Greater Beirut), Lebanese North areas including Zgharta, Bsharre, Koura, and Batroun.

Lebanese Protestants are concentrated mainly within the area of Beirut and Greater Beirut.

The other Lebanese Christians are concentrated also in similar areas like in east Beirut (northern parts of Greater Beirut), Mount Lebanon, Zahlé, and Jezzine.

Lebanese Jews

As of 2018, the Jews in Lebanon make up the smallest religious group, with merely 29 persons or 0.08% of the population.

Religion and society

Religion and politics

The Maronite Catholics and the Druze founded modern Lebanon in the early eighteenth century, through a governing and social system known as the "Maronite-Druze dualism" in the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate.[12]

Religion plays a big role in politics; some researchers describe the political system in Lebanon as "coming out of the womb of religion and politics".[13] After the independence from France in 1943, the leaders of Lebanon agreed on the distribution of the political positions in the country according to religious affiliation, known as the national pact. Since then, the President is always a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister is always a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of the Parliament is always a Shia Muslim.

Most parties have a sectarian identity as well, and represent the interests of their religion. A lot of clergies are involved in politics, and some are members and leaders of those parties.[14]

Current political and religious issues

Under the terms of an agreement known as the National Pact between the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, the president of the country must be a Maronite, the Prime Minister must be a Sunni, and the Speaker of Parliament must be a Shia.[15][16]

Although Lebanon is a secular country, family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages conducted in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities.

Non-religion is not recognized by the state. However, in 2009, the Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud made it possible to have a citizen's religious sect removed from his identity card.[17][18]

In April 2010, Laïque Pride, a secular group co-founded by feminist Yalda Younes, called for "an end to the country's deep-rooted sectarian system" and for a "secular Lebanon". Laïque Pride supports the enacting of a unified Civil Code for the Personal Status Law.[19]

On April 26, 2010, in response to Hizb ut-Tahrir's growing appeal in Beirut and demands to re-establish an Islamic caliphate, a Laïque Pride march was held in Beirut. Three days later, 70,000 gathered in Martyrs' Square, Beirut for a march organized by Laïque Pride.

In 2011, hundreds of protesters rallied in Beirut on 27 February in a Laïque Pride march, calling for reform of the country's confessional political system. At the same time, a peaceful sit-in took place in Saida.[20]

At a march in May 2012 in which 600 participated, Laïque Pride issued six demands, four concerning women's rights and two concerning media freedom. Secular student clubs from Saint Joseph University (USJ), the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA), as the American University of Beirut (AUB) also participated in the march.

In October 2019, and until August 2020, a series of civil protests ensued in Lebanon, now known as the October Revolution condemning sectarian rule amongst a myriad of other issues plaguing their country.[21] Lina Khatib, a journalist for Al-Jazeera, has labelled these protests as "cross-sectarian". She notes: "They are taking place across Lebanon, rather than only in Beirut. And they are demanding the fall of the government from the outset, while criticising political leaders from every sect."[22]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Analysis of Census 2021 Data" (PDF). Island Government of Freice. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. "Survey of personal belief" (PDF). Island Government of Freice. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. "Christianity in Freice". International Christian Foundation 9 May 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  4. "Report: Working towards a common future". (PDF) Island Government of Freice. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  5. Pintak, Lawrence (2019). America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781788315593.
  6. Jonas, Margaret (2011). The Templar Spirit: The Esoteric Inspiration, Rituals and Beliefs of the Knights Templar. Temple Lodge Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9781906999254. [Druze] often they are not regarded as being Muslim at all, nor do all the Druze consider themselves as Muslim
  7. "Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are". Arab America. Arab America. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. J. Stewart, Dona (2008). The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 9781135980795. Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets.
  9. Yazbeck Haddad, Yvonne (2014). The Oxford Handbook of American Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780199862634. While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is consider distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze consider themselves fully assimilated in American society and do not necessarily identify as Muslims..
  10. De McLaurin, Ronald (1979). The Political Role of Minority Groups in the Middle East. Michigan University Press. p. 114. ISBN 9780030525964. Theologically, one would have to conclude that the Druze are not Muslims. They do not accept the five pillars of Islam. In place of these principles the Druze have instituted the seven precepts noted above..
  11. Lebanon Maronites Overview World Directory of Minorities. June 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  12. Deeb, Marius (2013). Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah: The Unholy Alliance and Its War on Lebanon. Hoover Press. ISBN 9780817916664. the Maronites and the Druze, who founded Lebanon in the early eighteenth century.
  13. "الإصلاح والسلطة في لبنان بين الديني والسياسي". 2020-10-24. Archived from the original on 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  14. Limited, Elaph Publishing (7 February 2008). "رجال الدين في لبنان: يوم للرب وآخر للسياسة". @Elaph (in العربية). Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  15. "AUB: The Lebanese Civil War and the Taif Agreement". 2018-10-15. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  16. "Politics and the Airlines". International Affairs. 42 (2): 276. April 1966. doi:10.1093/ia/42.2.276a. ISSN 1468-2346.
  17. "Religious affiliation to disappear from Lebanese documents". www.asianews.it. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  18. Religious Affiliation Can Be Removed From Lebanese ID Cards. Barcode Nation (2009-02-25). Retrieved on 2013-09-26.
  19. adonis49. "Lebanese Laïque Pride activist group". Adonis Diaries. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  20. Reuters Staff (2011-02-27). "Lebanese protest against sectarian political system". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  21. Network, Readables (2019-10-27). "Lebanon Protesters Found Strength in Unity, Ditched Sectarianism". Report Syndication. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  22. Khatib, Lina. "Lebanon is experiencing a social revolution". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-10-08.