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Religion in Samoa encompasses a range of groups, but 98% of the population of Samoa is Christian. The following is a distribution of Christian groups as of 2011 (the most recent census available): Congregational Christian (32 percent), Roman Catholic (19 percent), LDS (15 percent), Methodist (14 percent), Assemblies of God (8 percent) and Seventh-day Adventist (4 percent). Groups together constituting less than 5 percent of the population include Baha'i, Jehovah's Witnesses, Congregational Church of Jesus, Nazarene, nondenominational Protestant, Baptist, Worship Centre, Peace Chapel, Samoa Evangelism, Elim Church, and Anglican. (According to A comparison of the 2006 and 2011 censuses shows a slight decline in the membership of major denominations and an increase in participation in nontraditional and evangelical groups. Although there is no official estimate, there are reportedly small numbers of Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews, primarily in Apia. The country has one of the world’s eight Bahá'í House of Worship. There is a small Muslim community and one mosque. 〔("The World Factbook; U.S. Central Intelligence Agency; last updated 27 March 2014." )〕 〔("International Religious Freedom Report 2012: Samoa; United States Department of State, Human Rights and Labor; retrieved 6 May 2014." ) This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.〕 == Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom == The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom. The constitution provides for the right to choose, practice, and change the religion of one’s choice. Legal protections cover discrimination or persecution by private as well as government actors.〔 The preamble to the constitution describes the country as “an independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and traditions.” Although the constitution favors Christianity and public ceremonies typically begin with a Christian prayer, there is no official state religion.〔 The government does not require religious groups to register.〔 The constitution provides freedom from unwanted religious education in schools and gives each religious group the right to establish its own schools. Nevertheless, a 2009 education policy, enforced since 2010, makes Christian instruction compulsory in public primary schools and optional in public secondary schools. This policy is a violation of the constitution but reflects a government decision that Christian beliefs should be taught in schools. The government institutes the policy inconsistently in government schools across the country with little if any public concern or opposition. Church-run pastoral schools in most villages traditionally provide religious instruction after school hours.〔 The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Good Friday, Easter Monday, White Monday (Children’s Day), and Christmas.〔 There were no reports of abuses of religious freedom.〔 A government-established commission charged with recommending possible constitutional amendments concerning religious freedom completed its collection of public submissions at the end of 2010. By the end of 2012, the government had not publicly released the report or tabled it in parliament.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Religion in Samoa」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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