Suriname

Now a republic on the northern coast of the South American continent, Suriname was until 1795 exclusive property of the Suriname Society and then a Dutch colony. Colonization, immigration, and missionary activities determined the unique religious makeup of the country. Prior to independence in 1975, a great deal of Suriname's culture and religious practices migrated to the Netherlands. This circumstance further contributes to the relevance of Suriname as an example of the globalization of religion.

The first colonization was by the British after 1650. In the Anglo-Dutch wars later in that century, the Dutch conquered this area around the Suriname River—a location settled in 1674. Since then, Suriname has been private property. The Indian population with its indigenous religion was soon outnumbered by African slaves and marginalized by the new rulers. The religions of the slaves developed into Winti and included African and Christian elements. Among the first settlers were Sephardic Jewish plantation owners, who fled from Pernam buco (Brazil) after the Portuguese had reconquered this city; later their community gained members from Amsterdam Jews. These settlers are responsible for the first stone synagogue in the New World. Already in 1735, the Moravian Brothers (Herrnhutters) arrived via Zeist (the Netherlands) in Suriname, but only after 1830 did the plantation owners allow them to convert the slaves. Their pietistic message about the equality of man before God had great appeal. The Calvinist rulers suppressed Catholic missionary activities, but when the Catholics gained freedom in the Netherlands, the mission in Suriname was handed over to the Redemptorist order in 1866.

Table 1 Religious Composition of Suriname

After the abolition of slavery in 1863, the Dutch government recruited labor power in Northern India and Indonesia, which further contributed to the religious diversity in Suriname: The country gained a substantial proportion of Hindu and Muslim inhabitants. In the last decades of the 20th century, Charismatic Churches entered the country.

Table 1 gives the religious composition of Suriname as of 2007.

Suriname is often seen as an example of a country where religions coexist peacefully. Indeed, churches, mosques, and synagogues are situated close to each other, and various religious feasts are public holidays. The historic center of Paramaribo with its many religious buildings is placed on the world heritage list.

The religious history of Suriname is itself an example of the globalization of religion, but even more so prior to independence in 1975. Many Surinamese profited from the possibility to migrate to the Netherlands, and so did their religion. As a consequence, the Netherlands were confronted with substantial minorities of Dutch-socialized Hindus and Muslims. The Moravian Brothers transformed from a White into a Black church organization. And at a time of increasing liberalization, the Catholic Church was confronted with more traditional believers.