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Religion in Brazil has a higher adherence level compared to other Latin American countries, and is more diverse. The dominant religion of Brazil historically was and still is Christianity. Brazil possesses a richly spiritual society formed from the meeting of the Roman Catholic Church with the religious traditions of African slaves and indigenous people. This confluence of faiths during the Portuguese colonization of Brazil led to the development of a diverse array of syncretistic practices within the overarching umbrella of Brazilian Roman Catholicism, characterized by traditional Portuguese festivities. Until recently Catholicism was overwhelmingly dominant. Rapid change in the 21st century has led to a growth in secularism (no religious affiliation), and evangelical Protestantism to over 22% of the population. The 2010 census indicates that under 65% of Brazilians consider themselves Catholic, down from 90% in 1970, leading Cardinal Cláudio Hummes to comment, "We wonder with anxiety: how long will Brazil remain a Catholic country?"〔Simon Romero, "A Laboratory for Revitalizing Catholicism," (''New York Times'' Feb 14, 2013 )〕 In 1891, when the first Brazilian Republican Constitution was set forth, Brazil ceased to have an official religion and has remained secular ever since, though the Catholic Church remained politically influential into the 1970s. The Constitution of Brazil guarantees freedom of religion and strongly prohibits the establishment of any religion by banning government support or hindrance of religion at all levels.〔 In the 2010 census〔 64.6% of the population declared themselves as Roman Catholic, 22.2% as Protestant, 8% as non religious, and 5.2% as followers of other religions (mostly Spiritists or Kardecists who follow the doctrines of Allan Kardec, Umbandists, Candomblers, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and minorities of Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and other groups). Brazilian religions are very diversified and inclined to syncretism. In recent decades, there has been a great increase of Neo-Pentecostal churches and a thriving of Afro-Brazilian religions,〔Michael Astor. (Once-Barred Practice Flourishes in Brazil. African-Influenced Candomble Challenged by Pentecostals, Modern Interpretations ). The Washington Post, January 1, 2005; Page B07. ''Accessed: August 8, 2012''.〕 which have decreased the number of members of the Roman Catholic Church.〔(Decreased the number of Catholic and African religions. Increased the number of Protestants (Census 2000) )〕 It is also important to notice how the number of Umbandists and Candomblers could be significantly higher than the official census figure, since many of them continue to this day to disguise their religion under "Roman Catholic" syncretism.〔Somer Wiggins. (Followers of Brazil’s Umbanda religion worship despite discrimination ). July 2, 2012. McClatchy. ''Accessed August 8, 2012''.〕 About ninety percent of Brazilians declared some sort of religious affiliation in the most recent census.〔(IBOPE - Instituto Brasileiro de Opinião e Estatística. ''Pesquisa de Opinião Pública sobre Criacionismo''. Dec. 2004 ). Accessed 2008-11-03〕 ==Demographics== 2010 Census:〔 * Roman Catholicism: 123,000,000 - 64.6% * Protestantism: 42,300,000 - 22.2% * No religion: 15,000,000 - 8% * Other religions: 9,300,000 - 5.2% 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 Brazil」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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