Why does Indonesia follow Hinduism?

The two major theories for the arrival of Hinduism in Indonesia include that South Indian sea traders brought Hinduism with them, and second being that Indonesian royalty welcomed Indian religions and culture, and it is they who first adopted these spiritual ideas followed by the masses.

Which island of Indonesia has Hinduism as its dominant faith?

Hindus account for less than 2 percent of all Indonesians, although Hinduism is the dominant religion on Bali and has many adherents in Lombok.

Is Balinese Hinduism an official religion in Bali?

Balinese Hinduism has been formally recognized by the Indonesian government as one of the official religions practised in Bali. Hindu influences reached the Indonesian Archipelago as early as the first century CE. Historical evidence is unclear about the diffusion process of cultural and spiritual ideas from India.

What is the percentage of Hinduism in Indonesia?

Hinduism is the third-largest religion in Indonesia. Currently, around 1.7 percent of the Indonesian population adheres to Hinduism, which in absolute terms constitutes approximately four million individuals out a total of almost 250 million Indonesians.

What is the stance of the Indonesian government on religion?

One peculiarity of the Indonesian government’s stance on (freedom of) religion is that it recognizes six official religions only (namely Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism).

How did Hinduism lose ground to Islam in Indonesia?

But after Islam had established itself in the archipelago as a socio-political force starting from the 13th century, Hinduism gradually lost ground to this quickly expanding religion. The only exception being Bali, where the ruler of Majapahit (originating from East Java) sought refuge from the conquest of Islamic forces.