Religion in Luxembourg
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[[Image:Luxembourg, Clervaux, Church.JPG|Church in [[Clervaux]], [[Luxembourg]]|thumb]]
There are many active '''religions in [[Luxembourg]]'''. The most important, in terms of size of congregation and historical importance, is [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]], but the state does not support, or discriminate against, any one single religion.
==Demographics==
Since [[1979]] it has been illegal for the government to collect statistics on religious beliefs or practices.<ref>{{fr icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1979/0291104/0291104.pdf#page=2 |title=Mémorial A, 1979, No. 29 |accessdate=2006-08-01 |format=PDF |publisher=Service central de législation}}</ref> It is estimated by the CIA Factbook that 87% of Luxembourgers are [[Catholic Church|Catholics]], the remaining 13% being made up of [[Protestantism|Protestants]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christians]], [[Judaism|Jews]], [[Islam|Muslims]] and those of other or [[irreligion|no religion]].<ref name="CIA World Factbook">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lu.html |title=World Factbook - Luxembourg |accessdate=2007-01-13 |date=19 December 2006 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref>
According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] [[2005]],<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite
web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and
technology 2005 - page 11|accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref>
* '''44%''' of Luxumbourg citizens responded that <font color="#884400">''"they believe there is a God"''</font>.
* '''28%''' answered that <font color="#884400">''"they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"''</font>.
* '''22%''' answered that <font color="#884400">''"they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force"''</font>.
==State intervention==
Luxembourg is a secular state, but the Grand Duchy recognises and supports several denominations, in exchange for which, the state is allowed a hand in their affairs. This status, first afforded to the Catholic Church, stems from [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]]'s [[Concordat of 1801]], the principles of which have continued to apply to Luxembourg, despite its separation from [[France]] in [[1815]] and its subsequent [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands|Dutch]] ownership.
Despite having the same roots as France's official position of ''[[laïcité]]'', Luxembourg's approach to religion has taken a different direction in the past 200 years, reducing the [[separation of church and state]], not increasing it. The state currently recognises Catholicism, Judaism, [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek]] and [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]] [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]], Protestantism, and as officially-mandated religions. In [[2003]], representatives of Islam, [[Anglicanism]], and [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian]] and [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian]] Orthodox Christianity engaged in discussions to be conferred similar status, but without success. <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51566.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2004 - Luxembourg]. 8 November 2004. US Department of State. ''URL accessed 24 May 2006''.</ref>
==Catholicism==
{{Main|Roman Catholicism in Luxembourg}}
Catholicism is the most practised religion in Luxembourg. Luxembourg was a major centre for Christianity during the [[Middle Ages]], Roman Catholicism was sustained through the [[Reformation]] by the hierarchy, buildings, and traditions established in the preceding centuries. The Catholic Church has received state support since [[1801]].
==Protestantism==
{{Main|Protestantism in Luxembourg}}
Protestantism is the largest [[minority religion]] in Luxembourg, with estimates of adherents ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 (1% to 3.2% of the population). They are divided across several Protestant churches and creeds, including [[Lutheranism]], [[Calvinism]], [[Anglicanism]], [[Presbyterianism]], and [[Evangelicalism]]. The largest Protestant churches in the Grand Duchy are the [[Protestant Church of Luxembourg]] (''PKL''), [[Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg]] (''PRKL''), [[Evangelical Church in Germany]], [[Church of England]], and [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]]. The state has supported the PKL since [[1894]] and the PRKL since [[1982]].
==Judaism==
{{Main|Jews and Judaism in Luxembourg}}
Luxembourg's [[Jewish people|Jewish]] community dates back at least as far as the 13th century, making [[Judaism]] the minority religion that has been practised the longest in Luxembourg. Today, Luxembourg's Jews number approximately 1,200, of whom, 650 practise actively. There are very few [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jews]] in Luxembourg.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/report_lux.html Manifestations of Anti-Semitism in the European Union - Luxembourg]. 1 December 2003. European Union. ''URL accessed 24 May 2006''.</ref> During the [[Holocaust]], 1,945 Jewish Luxembourgers were killed, out of a pre-war population of 3,500. Judaism is supported by the state.
==Islam==
{{Main|Islam in Luxembourg}}
{{Sectstub|date=May 2008}}
==See also==
*[[Islam in Luxembourg]]
*[[Judaism in Luxembourg]]
*[[Religion by country]]
*[[Roman Catholicism in Luxembourg]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Religion in Europe}}
[[Category:Religion in Luxembourg| ]]