Christianity in Brunei

Christianity in Brunei is the second largest religion practiced by about 8.7% of the population as of 2022.[1] Other reports suggest that this number may be as high as 12%.[2]

Historical Population of Bruneian Christians
YearPop.±%
198118,767—    
199125,994+38.5%
200131,291+20.4%
201134,176+9.2%
201629,510−13.7%
Source: Bruneian Department of Statistics [3]

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St. Andrew's Church in Bandar Seri Begawan

Restrictions on religious freedom

Contact with Christians in other countries, the import of Bibles and public celebration of Christmas are banned by decree.[4] Christians in Brunei are not allowed to proselytise.[5] Schools are not allowed to teach Christianity.[5] If religious organisations fail to register, its members can be imprisoned.[5] Teaching of non-Muslim religions in schools is prohibited.[5] Marriages between Christians and Muslims are prohibited.[5] Brunei is the latest Muslim country to enact a law that makes apostasy a crime punishable with death. In 2013, it enacted Syariah (Sharia’a) Penal Code. Section 112(1) of the new law states that a Muslim who declares himself non-Muslim commits a crime punishable with death, or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty years, depending on evidence.[6] Under the required wait period between notification of law and its validity under Brunei’s constitution, its new apostasy law and corporal punishment were to be applied starting October 2014, and capital punishment was to be imposed starting October 2015.[7]

In 2015, following up on a 2014 ban on celebrations that could lead Muslims astray or damage their faith, the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah banned public Christmas celebrations. Private celebrations are permitted to continue, so long as they are kept secret from Muslims.[8]

In 2023, Freedom House rates the country's religious freedom as 1 out of 4.[9]

Protestantism

In 1996 Protestants made up 1.3% of the population of Brunei, 0.6% Evangelical.[10]

In 2010 Protestants made up 4.4% of the population of Brunei.[11]

In 2020, they made up 3% of the population.[12]

Roman Catholic Church
Main article: Roman Catholicism in Brunei

There are three Roman Catholic parishes in Brunei.[14] They belong to the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam. The cardinal Cornelius Sim was the first bishop and the Vicar Apostolic of Brunei until his passing in May 2021. He was ordained bishop in 2005 and was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020.

See also

References
  1. US State Dept 2022 report
  2. Open Doors website, Retrieved 2023-08-01
  3. "Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year".
  4. "Open Doors UK". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008.
  5. "US Department of State 2009 report on Brunei".
  6. Brunei - Laws Criminalizing Apostasy Library of Congress (May 2014)
  7. Rabiatul Kamit & Bandar Seri Begawan, Kedah Officials in Brunei to Observe Syariah Law, Brunei Times (16 May 2014)
  8. "Brunei bans Christmas celebrations in public, including wearing Santa hats". 23 December 2015.
  9. Freedom House, Retrieved 2023-04-21
  10. "Adherents.com". Archived from the original on 12 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "Religions in Brunei | PEW-GRF". www.globalreligiousfutures.org. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  12. The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-01
  13. Source of the list: The World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, Volume 1, p. 153
  14. "the Roman Catholic Church in Brunei Darussalam". Archived from the original on 21 February 2008.
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