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While Suriname is the smallest country in South America in both area and population, there is a considerable diversity in religion. This is due to the diverse nature of the population. The population before the arrival of the Europeans was Amer-Indian people with animistic religious beliefs. As a result of colonization and contact with the Europeans, the Amer-Indian population was decimated and this their religious beliefs largely disappeared. And the religious beliefs of the country are today those of the people who colonized the country and the people the colonizers brought into what after a seines of colonial wars became a Dutch colony. The Dutch were largely Protestant Christians, although they seem less fixed on evangelizing than the Spanish and Portuguese who dominated most if the rest of the continent. The sugar planters largely Christianized the African captives imported as slaves, although this process did not begin to any extent until the 19th century. The Christian nature of Suriname is, however, different from that of the Netherlands itself. The indentured laborers brought in from (northern India and Java) to replace the emancipated African slaves largely retained their religious beliefs. Suriname is the most multi-cultural nation in South America and also has the most diverse religious make-up. We have only dated relatively dated census data with religious information (2012). Christianity is the dominant religion, about half the population, but this is the smallest share in South America. Hinduism (20 percent) and Islam (15 percent) are the second and third largest religion, as a result of the Indian and Javanese indentured workers. The remainder is a number of small religious communities including the beliefs of the surviving Amer-Indian people and African religions which survived among the Maroon populations in the interior, both of which have been reduced by Christian missionaries. This also includes people who express no religious identity.
Suriname guarantees its people religious freedom. This is the general practice in Latin America today, but was not always the case because Spain and Portugal as they established their colonies strongly fought even the slightest element of religious freedom. The Inquisition was very active, especially in the Spanish Empire. They strictly excluded Protestants from the Empire. The Dutch had to fight a century-long war of independence against Spain. Even during the prevailing religious upheaval (16th-17th centuries) in Europe, the Dutch exhibited a string degree of religious tolerance. This is reflected in the fact that the religious make up of Suriname is radically different than that of the Netherlands itself. Interestingly, religious practice in Suriname is largely rooted in ethnicity and the political parties are also separated by ethnicity and religion. The parties, however, have avoided making religion an issue and have promoted religious tolerance.
While Suriname is the smallest country in South America in both area and population, there is a considerable diversity in religion. This is due to the diverse nature of the population. The population before the arrival of the Europeans was Amer-Indian people with animistic religious beliefs. As a result of colonization and contact with the Europeans, the Amer-Indian population was decimated and this their religious beliefs largely disappeared. And the religious beliefs of the country are today those of the people who colonized the country and the people the colonizers brought into what after a series of colonial wars became a Dutch colony. The Dutch were largely Protestant Christians, although they seem less fixed on evangelizing than the Spanish and Portuguese who dominated most if the rest of the continent. The sugar planters largely Christianized the African captives imported as slaves, although this process did not begin to any extent until the 19th century. The Christian nature of Suriname is, however, different from that of the Netherlands itself. Suriname is the most multi-cultural nation in South America and also has the most diverse religious make-up. We have only dated relatively dated census data with religious information (2012).
Christianity is the single most important religion in Suriname. The Dutch were largely Protestant Christians, although their colonial policy way not fixed on evangelizing the colonized people than Catholic Spanish and Portuguese who dominated most if the rest of the continent. The sugar planters largely Christianized the African captives imported as slaves, although this process did not begin to any extent until the 19th century. The Christian nature of Suriname is, however, different from that of the Netherlands itself. The Anglican Church is the oldest and most important Christian denomination. Which is interesting because it is of English, not Dutch origins.
Both Catholicism and Protestantism (some do not consider the Anglicans protestant) have a significant presence.
The most important Protestant denominations are not the main-line churches), but Pentecostal church and the Moravians (Evangelische Broedergemeente). The first Catholic missions arrived as a result of colonial wars (1683). At the time the Catholic church was well-established throughout Latin America. The growth of Christianity was gradual in Suriname and not extensive (16th-18th centuries). Unlike Spain and Portugal, there was little interest in converting indigenous peoples and plantation slaves. Dutch rule was firmly established after the Napoleonic Wars (1816). Changing attitudes in Europe generated a Protestant missionary effort. Most of the surviving endogenous people near the coastal Dutch settlements and West African slaves were Christianized. Their descendants now make up most of the Suriname's population, although some no longer practice the faith. In recent years, evangelical missionaries have been active with indigenous and Maroon communities in the interior. While about half of Surinamese are Chrustian, traditional indigenous beliefs are still respected even among Christains. Many Maroons have ssentially merged their traditional religions with Christianity. Christianity plays an imprtant role in Surinamese society. There are cultural expressios, including music and art. Christianity also has a rile in imprtant social services. Churches operate schools and support efforts to aid the very poor or thise aflicted with drug addiction. .
Hinduism is the second largest religious community in Suriname. It was introduced the indentured workers from from (northern India and Java) who replace the emancipated African slaves largely retained their religious beliefs. Hinduism has a significant presence (over 20 percent), making it the country's second largest religion and the largest in South America. There is also a Hindu comunity in nearby Guyana and Trinidad. This was part of an arrangement between the Dutch and British Governments. The liberal policies of the Dutch authorities permitted to openly practice their religion. Surnmese Hunduism is notable for the lack of a caste system, pronably because the indentured workers who came to Suriname came from thev lower castes. The principal Deity in both Guyana and Suriname countries is Hanuman. He played conquering role he plays in the Ramayana. This is the case in northrn India (Indian Bhojpuri Belt) where many of the original Hindu indentured workers were recruited. Other populr Deities include Siva, Durga, Kali and Ganesha. Reading of Gita and Ramayan are nearly universal. In some areas of Suriname they are the religious majority. Hindu communities are located in Nickerie, Wanica, and Saramacca. The Hindus have tended not to assimilate with the country's largely African ethnic majority. One reports suggest a more optimistic spirit among Hindus in Suriname than Guyana, despite the poverty. Indian musician Radjen Koemarsingh noted, "There is an Indian cultural center, seven radio stations with an all-Indian format and four television stations exclusively devoted to Indian programming.” Hindi is taught in some schools as an official language. 【Anonamous】
Islam is the third largest religious community in Suriname. It was also introduced in Suriname by the indentured workers from (northern India and Java) who replace the emancipated African slaves. Many Muslims retained their religious beliefs. Few Suinamese Muslims trace their religion to the transported acptove Africans who were enslaved in Suriname. Most Surinamese Muslims are Sunnis, but there some Sufis, Javanese Kejawèn, and other related beliefs. Muslims make up over 15 percent of the Surinamese population, but the percentage seems to be rising. Suriname thus has the highest proportion of Muslims in the Americas. The majority are Sunni, although there is also an acive Ahmadiyya community. Both Suriname and Guyana are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation – an organization that attempts to act as a collective voice for the Muslim world.
Other religious belief in Suriname include the religious practices of the surviving Amer-Indian people and African religions which survived among the Maroon populations in the interior. Both have been in recent years been reduced by Christian missionaries. Many indigenous people deep in the interior continue to practice traditional religions. This includes animistic practices which means the worship of nature and all living beings. A substantial portion of the African descendants of the Maroon people who escaped slavery continue to practice traditional African beliefs. This commonly involves ancestor worship. It needs to be mentioned that Afro-descendant converts to Christianity are influenced by traditional beliefs and rituals. This is also common among Christian in African countries. The same is true of Amer-Indian converts, but they are a smaller portion of the population.
A range of at first Dutch missionaries have been active in Latin America, including both Catholic and Protestant missionaries. The first Christian missionaries arrived in Suriname while it was not yet well-established Dutch colony (17th century). They faced serious obstacles, especially language barriers and the hostility of both Amer-indian and Maroon communities fighting for survival against slave-holding planters. And the Dutch were major participants in the slave trade. The Dutch did not end slavery in Suriname until relatively late in the campaign against slavery (1863). While the planters and slave traders were Christians to varying degrees,
it is the Christian Abolitionist movements that finally ended slavery. Since World War II, the most active missionary effort has come from from the American evangelical denominations. As a result, they have created substantial Protestant communities in quite a number of formerly all Athletic countries, most importantly Brazil. Suriname is one such example. These dedicated people work as family groups. They have primarily been successful among the Afro-creole and Maroon communities, including people in very isolated interior villages. These missionaries as opposed ti early-missionaries seem very respectful of the traditional culture with which they are working., a factor in their success.
Anonamous. "Hindus of South America," Hinduism Today (January-February, 2000).
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