Religions in Tonga

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In the Kingdom of Tonga there are a large number of religions or denominations . The Tonga constitution guarantees freedom of belief as long as it does not cause harm. In the 2011 census , 17 different faiths were distinguished.

history

The Polynesian religion, a polytheistic religion with the god Tangaloa as the supreme authority, was practiced for about 2000 years .

Under George Tupou I , Christianity was declared the official religion of Tonga and all residents had to convert. The traditional religion of Tonga is practically no longer practiced today, but elements of the old religion still have great cultural significance. This includes the worship of ancestors and the traditions of creator beings and spirits. The religious myths as well as mana and tapu are still anchored in people's thinking despite Christianization.

Methodist / Wesleyan Belief

Centenary Church (Coronation Church )

Traditionally, the Methodist faith of the Wesleyan Church of Tonga has a special position, as it is close to the Tongan royal family . In 2011, 35.5 percent of the population were followers of this religion.

The Free Church of Tonga with 11.5 percent and the Church of Tonga with 6.7 percent are also Methodist denominations. The Free Church of Tonga was the official state church of Tonga before 1924 . It still has members outside of the UK, including New Zealand , Fiji and American Samoa .

In the 1970s, the Tokaikolo / Maamafo'ou developed another Methodist church, which today (as of 2011) includes around 2.5 percent of the population.

Other religions and denominations

Roman Catholic Saint Anthony of Padua

In 2011, 18 percent of the population, or almost 18,600 people, belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a Mormon faith . This is followed by the Roman Catholic Church with 15 percent of the population . The Anglican Community plays a minor role with only 728 followers (as of 2011). Assembly of God and Seventh-day Adventists each have approximately 2,300 to 2,600 followers.

Small religions and denominations with fewer than 1000 members (as of 2011) are:

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Freedom of Worship. In: Constitution of the Kingdom of Tonga , 1988, Chapter 1, No. 5, p. 8.
  2. ↑ a b c d Total population by constituency, sex and religious affiliation, 2011. Tonga 2011 Census of Population and Housing, Government of Tonga, 2011, p. 45.
  3. ^ Corinna Erckenbrecht: Traditional religions of Oceania . Introduction to the religions of Oceania, in the '' Harenberg Lexicon of Religions '', pp. 938–951. Harenberg-Verlagsgruppe, Dortmund 2002, accessed on August 13, 2019.
  4. ^ The Kingdom of Tonga, Aspects. Jane Resture's Oceanic Page. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  5. ^ Martin Daly: Tonga: A New Bibliography. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 2009, p. 112.