faiths

Papuans are deeply spiritual people. In addition to indigenous faith traditions, many of the major world faiths have strong followings in West Papua.

In terms of religious composition, 58 per cent of the population are Protestants, 24 per cent Muslim, 16 per cent Catholic and the remaining 12 per cent follow Buddhism, Hinduism or traditional beliefs.

The majority of the indigenous Papuan community are Christian, with Christianity largely supplanting - or in some cases merging with - traditional faiths since the arrival of Christian missionaries in West Papua in the late 1700s. There are also indigenous Papuans, mainly in the west of the territory, who have converted to Islam.

Many migrants are Muslim, in particular those who migrated from Java and southern Sulawesi. There are also migrants, in particular people from Maluku, who are Christian, and many of those who originate from Bali are Hindu.

Preventing conflict

The diversity of West Papua's religious and ethnic composition is often obscured by a generalised perception that indigenous Papuans are Christian, and migrants are Muslim. This generalisation creates the impression that indigenous and migrant communities are divided along both ethnic and religious lines - a simplification of identity that can be very dangerous.

The experience of some parts of Indonesia has shown that ethnic and religious identities can become dangerous fault lines along which violence can erupt (for example, in neighbouring Maluku where Christian and Muslim groups have been locked in a long and deadly conflict). Experience has also shown that religious and ethnic identities can be politicised, manipulated and radicalised to serve the interests of elites or those who would benefit from instability.

The risk that conflict could break out in West Papua along religious or ethnic lines is ever present. Combating this risk is one important role that religious leaders and organisations play in building peace in West Papua.