Religion is a particularly important topic in Bali. Bali is the only island with a Hindu majority in the otherwise Muslim country of Indonesia. The faith of the Hindu Balinese is omnipresent and plays a major role in everyday life. Below, we will give you a general overview of the topic of religion in Bali. We have provided more information about Hinduism in Bali in a separate article.
The main religions in Bali
As already mentioned, Indonesia as a whole is strongly influenced by the Muslim faith. Bali, as part of the Indonesian state, on the other hand, has a population that is predominantly Hindu. But of course there are other faiths represented in Bali. Here is a brief overview:
Hinduism in Bali
Hinduism is the majority religion in Bali. Balinese Hinduism is strongly influenced by traditional customs. It combines many of the basic beliefs of Hinduism with the arts and rituals of the Balinese people. The traditional customs mentioned are based on animism. Animism is the belief in the soul of everything, that every living thing (including plants) has a soul.
Islam in Bali
As already mentioned, Islam is also a religion represented in Bali. In Indonesia as a whole, the majority of the population professes Islam. Due to the economic strength of Bali within the Indonesian state, residents of other parts of the country try their luck on the Island of the Gods. So there is an influx of people to Bali from Muslim-influenced parts of Indonesia.
Christianity in Bali
There are also followers of Christianity in Bali, which is the second largest minority religion on the island. The Christians in Bali live mainly in the two villages of Palasari and Blimbing Sari. The proportion of Christians in the Balinese population is in the low single digits. Christianity reached Bali in the 17th century. Since then, many Balinese have converted to Christianity.
Buddhism in Bali
Buddhism has been present on Bali for significantly longer than Christianity. It is one of the most important religions in Southeast Asia and spread to Bali as early as the 8th century, where it has remained to this day. Balinese Hinduism is strongly influenced by Buddhism, so that the two religions are indistinguishable in Balinese understanding. Nevertheless, there are still purely Buddhist families on Bali, as well as some Buddhist monasteries.
Coexistence of religions in Bali
While Islam is the majority religion in Indonesia as a whole, in Bali the majority of the population is Hindu. Despite the starkly different religious beliefs, the religions coexist peacefully in Bali. The fact that Bali, as a Hindu island, can assert itself in the midst of the Muslim-influenced Indonesian state is a special feature. This is partly due to the motto ‘unity in diversity’ of the declaration of independence in 1945. Today, freedom of religion in Indonesia and thus also in Bali is regulated by the Indonesian constitution. Article 29 of the constitution guarantees freedom of belief and religion for all people in Indonesia.
Conclusion: Religion in Bali is diverse and omnipresent
Religion and faith play a very important role in Bali. With a majority Hindu population, Bali plays a special role in Indonesia, which is otherwise dominated by Islam. The many rituals of the Hindu population have a great influence on the daily lives of devout Balinese. However, other religions also find their place on the Island of the Gods alongside Hinduism. There is a peaceful coexistence with the followers of other religious minorities.
