Religion Canton of Bern

capital city of bern aare, gothic nydeggkirche on left

most bernese protestant (as of 2000, 67%), , protestants belong swiss reformed church, officially recognised state church (german: landeskirche), although autonomous in governance , organised along democratic principles. canton home great number of small evangelical christian denominations unaffiliated state church. bernese evangelical groups found in emmental , berner oberland, have long tradition; several contemporary american religious groups, such amish , mennonites, founded or co-founded bernese emigrants united states. 2 small evangelical political parties represented in bernese cantonal parliament.

bern features substantial roman catholic (16%) , christian catholic minorities. these churches have state church status, , small jewish community recognised law. everywhere in switzerland, there significant religious communities of immigrants, including sikhs (who have prominent gurdwara, or temple, in langenthal), church of jesus christ of latter-day saints (who have built bern switzerland temple) , muslims. of 2006, plans expand backyard mosque in langenthal symbolic minaret have, elsewhere in switzerland, caused public stir due vocal opposition local conservative , evangelical leaders.

from 2000 census, 607,358 or 63.5% belonged swiss reformed church, while 153,357 or 16.0% roman catholic. of rest of population, there 9,153 members of orthodox church (or 0.96% of population), there 1,064 individuals (or 0.11% of population) belonged christian catholic church, , there 71,233 individuals (or 7.44% of population) belonged christian church. there 807 individuals (or 0.08% of population) jewish, , 28,377 (or 2.96% of population) islamic. there 2,662 individuals buddhist, 5,991 individuals hindu , 913 individuals belonged church. 74,162 (or 7.75% of population) belonged no church, agnostic or atheist, , 37,059 individuals (or 3.87% of population) did not answer question.