State religion Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Multiple religion recognition=== * {{Flag|China}}: The government of China officially espouses [[state atheism]],<ref name="Dillon2001">{{cite book |last1=Dillon |first1=Michael |title=Religious Minorities and China |date=2001 |publisher=Minority Rights Group International |language=en}}</ref> and officially recognizes only five religions: [[Chinese Buddhism|Buddhism]], [[Taoism in China|Taoism]], [[Islam in China|Islam]], [[Christianity in China|Christianity]] ([[Catholic Church in China|Catholicism]] and [[Protestantism in China|Protestantism]]).<ref>Rowan Callick. ''Party Time: Who Runs China and How''. Black Inc, 2013. p. 112</ref> Despite limitations on certain forms of religious expression and assembly, religion is not banned, and religious freedom is nominally protected under the Chinese constitution. Among the general Chinese population, there are a wide variety of religious practices.<ref name="French">{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/world/asia/04iht-web0304.china.4786768.html |title= Religious surge in once-atheist China surprises leaders |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |date= 2007-03-03|access-date=2013-11-25 |first=Howard |last=French}}</ref> The Chinese government's attitude to religion is one of skepticism and non-promotion.<ref name="French"/><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ |title= A surprising map of where the world's atheists live |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2013-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Party's-secret-directives-on-how-to-eradicate-religion-and-ensure-the-victory-of-atheism-2029.html |title= Party's secret directives on how to eradicate religion and ensure the victory of atheism |publisher= Asian News|access-date=2013-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/monitoring/253345.stm|title= China announces "civilizing" atheism drive in Tibet |publisher= [[BBC]] |date= 1999-01-12|access-date=2013-11-25}}</ref> * {{flag|France}}: The [[local law in Alsace-Moselle]] accords official status to four religions in this specific region of France: [[Judaism]], [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Lutheranism]] and [[Calvinism]]. The law is a remnant of the Napoleonic [[Concordat of 1801]], which was abrogated in the rest of France by the [[1905 French law on the separation of Church and State|law of 1905]] on the [[separation of church and state]]. However, at the time, Alsace-Moselle had been [[Alsace-Lorraine|annexed by Germany]]. The Concordat, therefore, remained in force in these areas, and it was not abrogated when France regained control of the region in 1918. Therefore, the separation of church and state, part of the French concept of [[Laïcité]], does not apply in this region.<ref>{{cite news|title= Church-state tie opens door for mosque |work=The New York Times |date=2008-10-07 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/world/europe/07iht-alsace.1.16744303.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |access-date=2013-11-02}}</ref> * {{flag|Indonesia}} is officially a [[presidential republic]] and a [[unitary state]] that does not declare or designate a state religion. Officially, [[Government of Indonesia|the government]] recognizes six religions: [[Islam in Indonesia|Islam]], [[Protestantism in Indonesia|Protestantism]], [[Catholic Church in Indonesia|Catholicism]], [[Buddhism in Indonesia|Buddhism]], [[Hinduism in Indonesia|Hinduism]], and [[Confucianism in Indonesia|Confucianism]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion in Indonesia {{!}} Indonesia Investments |url=https://www.indonesia-investments.com/culture/religion/item69 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=www.indonesia-investments.com}}</ref> as well as traditional and indigenous believes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kemendikbud serahkan KTP Penghayat Kepercayaan di Festival Budaya Solo |url=https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3640041/kemendikbud-serahkan-ktp-penghayat-kepercayaan-di-festival-budaya-solo |lang=Indonesian|access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.antaranews.com}}</ref> [[Pancasila (politics)|Pancasila]] comes from the [[Jakarta Charter]] whose first article was changed from "Divinity, with the obligation to carry out Islamic law for its adherents" to "the One Divinity", to respect other religions. The [[Constitution of Indonesia]] guarantees freedom of religion and the practice of other religions and beliefs, including traditional animistic beliefs. Indonesians who are practicing other unrecognized religions such as [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] and [[Jainism|Jains]] are often counted as "Hindu" while Indonesians practicing [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]] are often counted as "Christian" for governmental purposes.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} [[Atheism in Indonesia|Atheism]], although not prosecuted, is discouraged by the state ideology of ''[[Pancasila (politics)|Pancasila]]''. In addition, the province of [[Aceh]] receives a special status and a higher degree of autonomy, in which it may enact laws (''[[Qanun (law)|qanuns]]'') based on the [[Sharia]] and enforce it, especially to its Muslim residents. * {{flag|Lebanon}}: There are 18 officially recognized religious groups in Lebanon, each with its own family law legislation and set of religious courts.<ref>"Women in Personal Status Laws". Retrieved 26 March 2013.</ref> Under the terms of an agreement known as the [[National Pact]] between the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, the [[List of Presidents of Lebanon|president of the country]] must be a [[Maronite Christianity in Lebanon|Maronite]], the [[Prime Minister of Lebanon|Prime Minister]] must be a [[Lebanese Sunni Muslims|Sunni]], and the [[List of Speakers of the Parliament of Lebanon|Speaker of Parliament]] must be a [[Lebanese Shia Muslims|Shia]].<ref>{{cite book|author=R. Rabil|title=Religion, National Identity, and Confessional Politics in Lebanon: The Challenge of Islamism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3fHMCwAAQBAJ|year=2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US|isbn=978-0-230-33925-5}}</ref> * {{flag|Luxembourg}} is a secular state, but the Grand Duchy recognizes and supports several denominations, including the [[Catholic Church in Luxembourg|Catholic Church]], [[Greek Orthodox]], [[Russian Orthodox]], [[Romanian Orthodox]], [[Serbian Orthodox]], [[Anglican]] and some [[Protestantism in Luxembourg|Protestantism]] denominations as well as to [[Judaism|Jewish]] congregations.<ref>{{cite book|title=State-Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Khag6tbsIn4C&pg=PA226 |author=Jeroen Temperman|publisher=Brill|isbn= 978-9004181489|year = 2010}}</ref> *{{flag|Nepal}} is a secular nation, and secularism in Nepal under the interim constitution (Part 1, Article 4) is defined as "religious and cultural freedom, along with the protection of religion and culture handed down from time immemorial." That is, "the state government is bound for protecting and fostering Hindu religion" while maintaining "religious" and "cultural" freedom throughout the nation as fundamental rights. * {{flag|Russia}}: Though a [[secular state]] under the constitution, Russia is often said to have [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodoxy]] as the ''[[de facto]]'' national religion, despite other minorities: "The Russian Orthodox Church is de facto privileged religion of the state, claiming the right to decide which other religions or denominations are to be granted the right of registration".<ref>{{cite book|last=Bourdeaux|first=Michael|chapter=Trends in Religious Policy|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPP3ti4hysUC&pg=PA46|title=Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia|publisher=Taylor and Francis|year=2003|isbn=978-1857431377|pages=46–52}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/russia-s-de-facto-state-religion.html|title=Russia's De-Facto State Religion|date=24 April 2008|work=[[The Christian Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/uncategorized/18128/|title=Russian Orthodoxy now de facto state religion|publisher=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]|date=24 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/russian-orthodox-church-from-farce-to-tragedy/|title=The Russian Orthodox Church: from farce to tragedy?|publisher=[[openDemocracy]]|date=3 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gHmsAgAAQBAJ&q=russian+orthodox+church+de+facto+state+religion&pg=PA24|quote=the Russian Orthodox Church has become ''de facto'' state Church|title=Religion and Language in Post-Soviet Russia|first1=Brian P.|last1=Bennett|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-1136736131|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/07/russia.ameliagentleman |first1=Amelia |last1=Gentleman |title=Backlash of faith shakes atheists|quote='It is only natural there has been a surge in interest in religion over the past decade, given the repression that went before,' Levinson said. 'But we are particularly concerned about the growing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church - which has become the de facto state religion - to the exclusion of all other convictions.'|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=7 January 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608183532/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/07/russia.ameliagentleman |archive-date= Jun 8, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/world/europe/24church.html |url-access=subscription |title=At Expense of All Others, Putin Picks a Church|quote=Just as the government has tightened control over political life, so, too, has it intruded in matters of faith. The Kremlin's surrogates in many areas have turned the Russian Orthodox Church into a de facto official religion|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=24 April 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608131607/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/world/europe/24church.html |archive-date= Jun 8, 2023 }}</ref><p>[[Islam in Russia]] is recognized under the law and by Russian political leaders as one of Russia's traditional religions, Islam is a part of [[History of Russia|Russian historical heritage]], and is [[Subsidy|subsidized]] by the Russian government.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Bell, I|title=Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPP3ti4hysUC&pg=PA47|access-date=2007-12-27|isbn=978-1-85743-137-7|year=2002|publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref> The position of Islam as a major Russian religion, alongside [[Russian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]], dates from the time of [[Catherine the Great]], who sponsored [[Ulama|Islamic clerics]] and scholarship through the [[Orenburg Muslim Spiritual Assembly|Orenburg Assembly]].<ref>Azamatov, Danil D. (1998), "The Muftis of the Orenburg Spiritual Assembly in the 18th and 19th Centuries: The Struggle for Power in Russia's Muslim Institution", in Anke von Kugelgen; Michael Kemper; Allen J. Frank, Muslim culture in Russia and Central Asia from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, vol. 2: Inter-Regional and Inter-Ethnic Relations, Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag, pp. 355–384,</ref></p> * {{flag|Singapore}} is officially a secular country and does not have a state religion, and has been named in one study as the "most religiously diverse nation in the world", with no religious group forming a majority.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2014/4/15/5617068/a-surprising-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-religiously-diverse |website=Vox |first1=Max |last1=Fisher |title=This map of the world's most religiously diverse countries may surprise you|date=15 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231104042500/https://www.vox.com/2014/4/15/5617068/a-surprising-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-religiously-diverse |archive-date= Nov 4, 2023 }}</ref> However, the government gives official recognition to ten different religions, namely [[Buddhism in Singapore|Buddhism]], [[Christianity in Singapore|Christianity]], [[Islam in Singapore|Islam]], [[Hinduism in Singapore|Hinduism]], [[Taoism in Singapore|Taoism]], [[Sikhism in Singapore|Sikhism]], [[History of the Jews in Singapore|Judaism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Jainism in Singapore|Jainism]], and the [[Baháʼí Faith]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iro.sg/|title=Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore |website=iro.sg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626023943/https://iro.sg/ |archive-date= Jun 26, 2023 }}</ref> and Singapore's penal code explicitly prohibits "wounding religious feelings". The [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and [[Unification Church]] are also banned in Singapore, as the government deems them to be a threat to national security. * {{flag|Switzerland}} is officially secular at the federal level but 24 of the 26 cantons support both the [[Swiss Reformed Church]] and the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in various ways. * {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Islam in Turkey|Turkey]]: The Republic of Turkey is officially a [[Secularism in Turkey|secular country]]. None of the past and the latest [[Constitution of Turkey|constitutions]] recognizes an [[official religion]] nor promotes any.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anayasa.gov.tr/en/legislation/turkish-constiution/|title=Turkish Constitution | Anayasa Mahkemesi|website=www.anayasa.gov.tr}}</ref> But; the [[Directorate of Religious Affairs]], an official state institution established by [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] in 1924,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diyanet.gov.tr/tr-TR/Kurumsal/Detay/1#|title=Kurumsal}}</ref> expresses opinions only on religious matters regarding [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-30|title=Turkey may have reclaimed the leadership of Sunni Islam from Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200730-turkey-may-have-reclaimed-the-leadership-of-sunni-islam-from-saudi-arabia/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Middle East Monitor|language=en-GB}}</ref> The directorate regulates the operation of the country's hundreds of thousands of registered mosques and employs local and provincial imams (who are civil servants) who are appointed and paid by the state,<ref name="US2008">{{cite web | title = 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom – Afghanistan | publisher = United States Department of State | date = 19 September 2008 | url = http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/48d5cbf4c.html | access-date = 2 July 2009}}</ref> whilst other sects of Islam with a sizeable minority such as [[Alevism]] are not being regulated nor being funded by the directorate.<ref>https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/808395</ref><p>In addition, the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] explicitly guarantees the security and protection of both [[Christianity in Turkey|Greek and Armenian Orthodox Christian minorities]] and the [[History of the Jews in Turkey|Turkish-Jews]]. Their religious institutions are being recognized officially by the state.<ref>https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/center/schell/patriacharte.pdf</ref><ref>https://rm.coe.int/native/09000016804e1f8e</ref></p> * {{flag|Vietnam}} is officially [[state atheism|atheist]]<ref>{{Citation|title=9. Marxist-Leninist 'Scientific Atheism' as the Science of Religion|date=1983-12-31|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9783110838589.359|work=Marxist-Leninist 'Scientific Atheism' and the Study of Religion and Atheism in the USSR|pages=359–384|publisher=De Gruyter|doi=10.1515/9783110838589.359|isbn=978-3-11-083858-9|access-date=2021-01-29}}</ref> (although sometimes also referred as atheist-Buddhist),<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 July 2015|title=Buddhism in Vietnam: An Education in Enlightenment|url=https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/07/23/buddhism-in-vietnam-an-education-in-enlightenment/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Spiritual Guide: Religion in Vietnam |url=https://www.anywhere.com/vietnam/travel-guide/religion |website=www.anywhere.com |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204112805/https://www.anywhere.com/vietnam/travel-guide/religion |archive-date=Feb 4, 2023 |language=en |date=2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> but recognizes only 38 religious organizations and one ''dharma'' practice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vietnam|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/vietnam/|access-date=2021-01-27|website=United States Department of State|language=en-US}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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