How did Christianity spread to Indonesia?

Christianity was effectively brought to Indonesia by the Portuguese maritime trading empire in the 16th cent. Franciscans from Portugal established themselves in the Moluccas in 1534.

Is there Christianity in Indonesia?

Although Christianity is the second-largest religion in Indonesia, it only forms a minority in the country. Around ten percent of the Indonesian population is currently counted as Christian; a percentage which – in absolute terms – constitutes approximately 23.5 million people.

Where do most Christians live in Indonesia?

Indonesian provinces with a majority of the population self-identifying as Christian are Papua, West Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, and North Sulawesi.

Why are there so many different religions in Indonesia?

Religions in Indonesia developed regionally rather than nationally because modern day Indonesia was neither unified nor independent until 1949. The country’s regions, including Java, Sumatra, Bali, Lombok, and more, all feature similar but distinct religious histories.

What happened to the Christians in Indonesia?

Christians in Indonesia: Allowing persecution to happen. Christians who refused to convert to Islam were killed; those who did convert were then separated from their families, given Muslim names, and forcibly circumcised without anaesthetic, and with dirty instruments.

What religion did the Portuguese bring to Indonesia?

The Portuguese introduced Catholicism to Indonesia in the 16th century, notably to the island of Flores and to what was to become East Timor. Protestantism was first introduced by the Dutch in the 16th century with Calvinist and Lutheran influences.

Who are the Muslims in Indonesia?

Islam Indonesia is the largest Islamic country in the world, with over 87\% of the population identifying as Muslim. Of this group of people, more than 99\% identify as Sunnis rather than Shias. Indonesian muslims perform Eid Al-Fitr prayer on ‘sea of sands’ at Parangkusumo beach on July 6, 2016 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.