Christianity in Bhutan
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Christians are estimated to make up approximately 1% of the population in Bhutan, or approximately 8,000 people.[1] Other figures suggest that they are more than 2% of the population.[2][3]
Origins
In 1627 two Pourtugese
The 2008 Constitution
Article 7 of the 2008 constitution guarantees religious freedom, but also forbids conversion 'by means of coercion or inducement'.[7] Forced religious conversions are punishable by up to three years in prison;[2] converts to Christianity can face social pressure to return to their original religion.
Vajrayana Buddhism as state religion
The constitution states that Buddhism is the state’s “spiritual heritage”.[2]
In 2007, Vajrayana Buddhism was the State religion of Bhutan.[8] Bhutan is the last remaining country in which Buddhism in its tantric, vajrayana form, also called lamaism, is the state religion.[9]
Christian communities
A 2022 report notes that most Christians live mainly in the south of the country.[2]
Roman Catholics
Territorially, Roman Catholics in Bhutan belong to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Darjeeling.[10] The country has one native-born priest, a Jesuit.[11]
Protestants
The majority of the country's Christians are Pentecostals. The Church of God in Christ, which claims to be the denomination supplying most gospel tracts in Bhutan, has a Pentecostal character and has about two congregations in Bhutan. The Indian New Life League is another Protestant denomination and has one congregation in Bhutan. The Diocese of Eastern Himalaya is a diocese of the Church of North India, with its seat at Darjeeling. There are other Protestant groups, like El-Shaddai, and there are also Christians who are not members of the denominational churches, who simply gather as Christians in the name of Jesus Christ. They are called "brethren" and number about 400 in Bhutan.
Restrictions on the Christian faith
Before 2008
- In 2002 : According to a 2002 report cited by the Bhutanese Christians Services Centre NGO, "the 65,000 Christians [in the country] have only one church at their disposal."[12]
- In 2006 : According to Mission Network News, "it's illegal for a Buddhist to become a Christian and church buildings are forbidden. (...) Christians in Bhutan are only allowed to practice their faith at home. Those who openly choose to follow Christ can be expelled from Bhutan and stripped of their citizenship."[13]
- In 2007 : According to Gospel for Asia, "the government has recently begun clamping down on Christians by barring some congregations from meeting for worship. This has caused at least two Gospel for Asia-affiliated churches to temporarily close their doors. (...) Under Bhutan law, it is illegal to attempt to convert people from the country’s two predominant religions [Buddhism and Hinduism]."[14]
After 2008
According to Open Doors, in the 2020s, women are at the greatest risk of persecution as they can face divorce or forced marriage; men can be disowned and disinherited by their families.[15]
Christian media
The Bhutanese Christians Services Centre is an NGO informing on persecution of Christians in Bhutan. [16]
Online Radio Box runs an online Christian radio station in Bhutan.[17] The Words of Hope group broadcasts a Christian radio programme for 45 minutes a week.[18]
Bible translations
The
See also
- Freedom of religion in Bhutan
- Roman Catholicism in Bhutan
- Persecution of Christians
References
- ^ Voice of the Martyrs website, retrieved 2023-08-28
- ^ a b c d US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ Open Doors website, retrieved 2023-08-28
- ^ David M. Malone (March 2008). "Our Man in Bhutan". Literary Review of Canada. Archived from the original on 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
- ISBN 9788184003116.
- ^ gTsang mKhan-chen ’Jam-dbyangs dPal-ldan rGyamtsho (c.1675). Dpal ’brug pa rin po che ngag dbang rnam rgyal gyi rnam par thar pa rgyas pa chos kyi sprin chen po’i dbyangs, in 5 parts (Ka - Ca) and a supplement (Cha).Reprint by Topden Tshering entitled The Detailed Biography of the First Zabs-drung Rinpoche of Bhutan Ngag-dbang-rnam-rgyal (Ngag-dbang-bdud-’joms-rdo-rje) (Dolanji, 1974, from the Punakha woodblocks of ca. 1797-1802)
- ^ The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan (PDF). Royal Government of Bhutan. 2008. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-05.
- ^ Bhutan, International Religious Freedom Report 2007, State Department.
- ^ Malgré la liberté de religion inscrite dans la Constitution, les chrétiens ne peuvent toujours ni pratiquer en public, ni construire de lieux de culte Archived 2012-02-27 at the Wayback Machine (Bulletin EDA n° 524), sur le site EDA (Églises d'Asie), Agence d'information des missions étrangères de Paris.
- ^ [1], Bhoutan, sur le site Aide à l'Église en détresse: "[le] diocèse indien de Darjeeling [...] inclut dans son territoire la petite nation du Bhoutan" (i.e. "the Indian diocese of Darjeeling [...] includes the small nation of Bhutan in its sphere."
- ^ "'I am a person with great hope': Meet the Church's only Bhutanese priest". The Pillar. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ Reports on Situation of Christians in Bhutan Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, Bhutan4Christ.
- ^ Leadership change in Bhutan sparks hope for ministry Archived 2008-04-16 at the Wayback Machine, Mission Network News, 26 December 2006.
- ^ Bhutanese Christians Barred from Attending Worship Services Archived 2010-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, Gospel For Asia,July 5, 2007.
- ^ Open Doors website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ "Bhutan Society and Culture". Archived from the original on 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
- ^ Online RadioBox website, retrieved 2023-08-28
- ^ Words Of Hope website, retrieved 2023-08-28
- ^ DZONGKHA (BHUTANESE) (Bible in My Language)
- ^ The Bible in Tshangla
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