2. There are multiple religions that are supported in France. Some of these religions include Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. Some people are not religious at all and many consider France as a secular country. Catholics, the major Christian group, are distributed all over France. There are approximately 1 million other Christians who are Protestants and they are mostly located in the southern part of the country. They are also located in Alsace, which is in Northern France. John Calvin, a famous Protestant, was born in northern France and lived in Paris. The largest number of Jews in Europe live in the city of Paris and Paris is known to have more kosher restaurants than New York City. Kosher restaurants prepare food that meet Jewish requirements. These such requirements include that they they eat have cloven hooves and chew their cud. The second largest Jewish population is located in Marseille, France. Muslims became prominent in France in the 1980s and today they are approximately 5 million Muslims in France. Most of them are from Northern Africa and most are located near the capital of Paris. Germany has the most muslims in total at 5.8 million. This is the third most in Europe. Russia has the most muslims at 14 million. This is almost twice the amount that France has.
3. The single largest religion in France is Christianity. It is a monotheistic and a universal religion with several branches. Christians worship one God in churches throughout France. These are the same rituals and religious celebrations that are carried out in Churches around the world. In France, the most prominent branch is Catholicism. Historically, France has been a Catholic country dating back to Charlemagne and the many Kings of France. Catholicism was considered the religion of the state. The Roman Catholic daily mass in this religion is a reenactment of the Last Supper. They believe the body and blood of Christ is present in the bread and wine. Each mass is a very structured ceremony that is reenacted around the world daily by priests. During the Reformation, Martin Luther split from the teachings of the Catholic Church. In France, the Protestants were known as Huguenots and followed the teachings of John Calvin. The noble families in the southern part of France converted to Calvinism and there were many religious wars throughout France. During much of the 16th and 17th centuries in France there was persecution of the Protestants by the Catholics. Many protestants were exiled or converted back to Catholicism. In 1905, France enacted the Separation of Church and State. This means that religion can not be determined by the government.
4. The most prominent religion in France is Catholicism. Roman Catholics represent over 80% of the Christians in France, but the majority of them do not attend church regularly or at all. Catholics believe in the teachings of the Bible and that Jesus was the son of God. They believe he was born in a manger to Mary and Joseph and that he lived in Nazareth. He was crucified and died on Good Friday and then resurrected on Easter Sunday. The Catholic Church is under the leadership of Pope Francis who lives in Italy. Nine of the total 219 cardinals of the church are from France. They are selected by the Pope and are the senior officials of the Church. There are also many prominent Catholic cathedrals in France which are headed by Catholic Bishops. Cathedral Notre Dame de Laos is located in the northeastern part of the country and is famous for its rose windows. Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris is located on the Seine River in Paris and is also the setting of a famous Victor Hugo novel. The shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is believed by Catholics to be the site where there were several visions of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Bernadette, a young girl. Bernadette later was canonized as a Saint in the Catholic Church due to the many miracles that are believed to have occurred at Lourdes.
5. There is currently religious conflict in France due to an increase in Muslim immigration. France has the highest number of actual religious practitioners in France. The Muslim population represents 7.5 percent of the total population and is expected to be greater than 10% by 2030. France would then have the highest Muslim population in western Europe. There has been a lot of controversy recently over building more mosques in France, especially a large new mosque in the capital city of Paris. A recent survey showed that 43% of French people consider the Muslim immigrants and their religion to be a threat to French national identity. The "burkini', a swimsuit worn by Muslim women was banned on many French beaches in 2016. It also was banned in over 30 French cities, but the high court ruled in August of 2016 that the mayors could not ban this attire. A burkini is a swimsuit worn mostly by Muslim women that covers the entire body except for the face, hands, and feet. In addition, their have been several terrorist attacks in France. In November, 2015 suicide bombings occurred in Paris at a concert, stadium and restaurant killing 130 people and injuring many others. In January 2016, soldiers guarding a mosque were attacked and on July 26, 2016, a priest was attacked inside a church in northern France.
3. The single largest religion in France is Christianity. It is a monotheistic and a universal religion with several branches. Christians worship one God in churches throughout France. These are the same rituals and religious celebrations that are carried out in Churches around the world. In France, the most prominent branch is Catholicism. Historically, France has been a Catholic country dating back to Charlemagne and the many Kings of France. Catholicism was considered the religion of the state. The Roman Catholic daily mass in this religion is a reenactment of the Last Supper. They believe the body and blood of Christ is present in the bread and wine. Each mass is a very structured ceremony that is reenacted around the world daily by priests. During the Reformation, Martin Luther split from the teachings of the Catholic Church. In France, the Protestants were known as Huguenots and followed the teachings of John Calvin. The noble families in the southern part of France converted to Calvinism and there were many religious wars throughout France. During much of the 16th and 17th centuries in France there was persecution of the Protestants by the Catholics. Many protestants were exiled or converted back to Catholicism. In 1905, France enacted the Separation of Church and State. This means that religion can not be determined by the government.
4. The most prominent religion in France is Catholicism. Roman Catholics represent over 80% of the Christians in France, but the majority of them do not attend church regularly or at all. Catholics believe in the teachings of the Bible and that Jesus was the son of God. They believe he was born in a manger to Mary and Joseph and that he lived in Nazareth. He was crucified and died on Good Friday and then resurrected on Easter Sunday. The Catholic Church is under the leadership of Pope Francis who lives in Italy. Nine of the total 219 cardinals of the church are from France. They are selected by the Pope and are the senior officials of the Church. There are also many prominent Catholic cathedrals in France which are headed by Catholic Bishops. Cathedral Notre Dame de Laos is located in the northeastern part of the country and is famous for its rose windows. Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris is located on the Seine River in Paris and is also the setting of a famous Victor Hugo novel. The shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is believed by Catholics to be the site where there were several visions of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Bernadette, a young girl. Bernadette later was canonized as a Saint in the Catholic Church due to the many miracles that are believed to have occurred at Lourdes.
5. There is currently religious conflict in France due to an increase in Muslim immigration. France has the highest number of actual religious practitioners in France. The Muslim population represents 7.5 percent of the total population and is expected to be greater than 10% by 2030. France would then have the highest Muslim population in western Europe. There has been a lot of controversy recently over building more mosques in France, especially a large new mosque in the capital city of Paris. A recent survey showed that 43% of French people consider the Muslim immigrants and their religion to be a threat to French national identity. The "burkini', a swimsuit worn by Muslim women was banned on many French beaches in 2016. It also was banned in over 30 French cities, but the high court ruled in August of 2016 that the mayors could not ban this attire. A burkini is a swimsuit worn mostly by Muslim women that covers the entire body except for the face, hands, and feet. In addition, their have been several terrorist attacks in France. In November, 2015 suicide bombings occurred in Paris at a concert, stadium and restaurant killing 130 people and injuring many others. In January 2016, soldiers guarding a mosque were attacked and on July 26, 2016, a priest was attacked inside a church in northern France.