Category:Venezuela
Venezuela is a country in South America.
- See Venezuelan -/- Spanish language -/- Venezuelan Scholarship -- Venezuelan Scholars -/- Venezuelan Fiction -- Venezuelan Authors
Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Venezuela
Christianity (in its Roman Catholic form) was carried to South America in the 16th century by the Spanish conquistadors. Catholic practices, especially in rural areas, incorporated ancient indigenous ceremonies. Spanish colonial rule, from the 16th to early 19th centuries, gave the Catholic Church a situation of monopoly, enforced by the Inquisition.
In the 19th century, with the creation of the modern Venezuelan State and the arrival of numerous immigrants, the religious situation became more diverse.
Contemporary times
Today, the overwhelming majority of Venezuelan people (around 90%) identify themselves as Roman Catholics and the Catholic Church has a special role of predominance in Venezuelan society, even though the Venezuelan constitution grants freedom to all religions.
Venezuela used to have one the largest Jewish populations in Latin America, until recent tensions with the government have caused a massive emigration.
There are also significant Evangelical and Muslim minorities.