Christianity in Algeria
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Christianity came to North Africa in the Roman era. Its influence declined during the chaotic period of the Vandal invasions but was strengthened in the succeeding Byzantine period, only to disappear gradually after the Arab invasions of the seventh century.[1]
Today, North Africa is primarily Muslim; Islam is the state religion of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. However, the free expression of other faiths is guaranteed by law. Although the current proportion of Christians in North Africa is low, churches can still be found there, and it is thought that there has been an increase in the number of conversions to Christianity in recent years. The total number of adherents remains very low relative to the populations of those countries. The percentage of Christians in Algeria is less than 2% ([2009]). In 2009, the UNO counted 20,000 Roman Catholics and between 200,000 and 320,000 Protestants in the country.
Conversions to Christianity have been most common in Kabylie, especially in the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou[2]. In that wilaya, the proportion of Christians has been estimated to be between 1% and 5%.
Christians have at times been subjected to religiously-motivated attacks. In 1996, the Msgr Pierre Claverie, bishop of Oran, was assassinated by Islamists. This murder occurred soon after that of seven monks of the Trappistes of Tibérine, and of six nuns. However, religious animosity seems to have declined since then.
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[edit] Catholicism
The Roman Catholic Church was reintroduced in Algeria after the French conquest, when the diocese of Algiers was established in 1838. Proselytization of the Muslim population was at first strictly prohibited; later the prohibition was less vigorously enforced, but few conversions took place. The several Roman Catholic missions established in Algeria were concerned with charitable and relief work; the establishment of schools, workshops, and infirmaries; and the training of staff for the new establishments. Some of the missionaries of these organizations remained in the country after independence, working among the poorer segments of the population. In the early 1980s, the Roman Catholic population numbered about 45,000, most of whom were foreigners or Algerians who had married French or Italians.[1]
During French rule, the Catholic population of Algeria peaked at over one million, but most of these left following Algeria's independence in 1962. In recent years, there has been a rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the country and Catholics have been subjected to persecution, culminating in the 1996 murder of a Pierre Claverie, bishop of Oran[2] There are now about 83,000 Catholics residing in the country.
The country is divided into four dioceses, including one archdiocese.
- Archdiocese of Alger
- Diocese of Laghouat (Immediately subject to the Holy See)
The diocese of Algeria was established in 1838 with the conquest of Algeria by French colonial troops. All proselytism among Muslims has long been prohibited and the role of the Catholic church is limited to acts of charity.
[edit] Protestantism
Protestants number between 250,000 and 300,000 in Algeria. [3] This small population generally practices its faith without government interference. [4] However, converts from Islam can be exposed to the risk of attack by extremists. [5] Missionary groups are permitted to conduct humanitarian activities without government interference as long as they are discreet and do not proselytize openly. [6] Since 2006 missioning Muslims can be punished with up to five years of prison. [7] The Protestant Church of Algeria is a Reformed Church with about 1,500 members. [8] The Protestant Church of Algeria is one of only two officially recognized Christian organizations in the country. [9] The country's Minister of Religious Affairs has called the evangelical churches "dangerous". [10]
Protestant denominations in Algeria include:[11]
- Armée du Salut
- Assemblées de Dieu
- Eglise Adventiste du Séptieme Jour
- Eglise Evangélique Copte
- Eglise Protestante d'Algérie
- Frères Larges
- Mission Baptiste Evangélique
- Mission Biblique de Ghardaia
- Mission d'Afrique du Nord
- Mission Evangélique au Sahara
- Mission Evangélique de Médéa
- Mission Evangélique du Sahara
- Mission Rolland
[edit] This is a translation of
[3]: Introduction and Christianisme en Algérie sections
[edit] References
- ^ a b Deeb, Mary Jane. "Religious minorities" Algeria (Country Study). Federal Research Division, Library of Congress; Helen Chapan Metz, ed. December 1993. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.[1]
- ^ *(French) [http://matoub.kabylie.free.fr/kabylie/article.php3?id_article=174 Sadek Lekdja, Christianity in Kabylie, Radio France Internationale, 7 mai 2001]
- ^ "Wikipedia on Christianity in Algeria". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Algeria.
- ^ "Wikipedia on Status of religious freedom in Algeria". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_religious_freedom_in_Algeria.
- ^ "Wikipedia on Status of religious freedom in Algeria". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_religious_freedom_in_Algeria.
- ^ "Wikipedia on Status of religious freedom in Algeria". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_religious_freedom_in_Algeria.
- ^ "German Site of the International Society for Human Rights". http://www.igfm.de/index.php?id=384&cHash=abfb1fbff8&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=579&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=20.
- ^ "Wikipedia on Protestant Church of Algeria". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Church_of_Algeria.
- ^ "PC(USA) Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study". http://www.pcusa.org/missionyearbook/Jun/11.htm.
- ^ "Open Doors UK". http://www.opendoorsuk.org/wwl_profiles/algeria.htm.
- ^ The World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, Volume 1, p. 57
[edit] External links
- Theology in Africa
- The African roots of Latin Christianity by Henri Teissier, Bishop of Algeria
- Muslims Turn to Christ in Algeria - CBN Report
- Statistics relating to the Catholic Church in Algeria
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