Christianity in Bhutan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christians are 65000 in Bhutan. [1] There are thought to be about 200 Catholics in the country. [2]

Christians of all denominations are subject to persecution. [3] Territorially, Bhutan comes under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Darjeeling in India. [4]

Christians are asked either to leave their religion or leave the country. [5]

There is a relatively large Christian population in Southern Bhutan. [6] Christians cannot build churches. [7] Faiths other than Buddhism or Hinduism are considered as foreign intrusions. [8] There are more Protestants than Catholics in Bhutan. [9] Bhutanese Christians Services Centre is an NGO informing on persecution of Christians in Bhutan. [10] Gospel for Asia broadcasts in five languages reaching Bhutan. [11] There is one single church in Bhutan. [12] According to the U. S. State Department's 2007 Report on International Religious Freedom no forced religious conversion has been known.

[edit] Legal situation

[13]Christian faith officially does not exist in Bhutan. [14] Christian house gatherings involving several families are forbidden. [15] Children of Christians are not eligible for free education. [16] Non-Buddhist religion is prohibited. [17] It occurs that Christians are expelled from the country or lose their citizenship. [18] Law of Bhutan includes religious liberty. [19] Conversion from Buddhism to other religions is prohibited. [20]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Report on Situation of Christians in Bhutan.
  2. ^ Wikipedia on Roman Catholicism in Bhutan.
  3. ^ Wikipedia on Roman Catholicism in Bhutan.
  4. ^ Wikipedia on Roman Catholicism in Bhutan.
  5. ^ EWTN.com.
  6. ^ Persecuted Countries: Bhutan.
  7. ^ Asia News.
  8. ^ Asia News.
  9. ^ Catholic Online.
  10. ^ Bhutan Society and Culture.
  11. ^ Mission Network News.
  12. ^ Report on Situation of Christians in Bhutan..
  13. ^ U. S. State Department's 2007 Report on International Religious Freedom.
  14. ^ Bhutan_2004.pdf.
  15. ^ Open doors UK.
  16. ^ Open doors UK.
  17. ^ The World Seen From Rome.
  18. ^ Gospel for Asia.
  19. ^ Department of State on Bhutan.
  20. ^ Persecuted Countries: Bhutan.

[edit] See also