Religion in Austenasia
Since 21 June 2017, Austenasia has been an officially Christian country. Christian feast days are celebrated as public holidays, and Christian symbols are used for example in the national coat of arms, but freedom of Austenasians to choose and practice their own religion has been guaranteed by law since December 2008, and is entrenched in the Constitution.
Austenasia has historically been a primarily Christian country. However, between 2013 and 2017, the proportion of Christians within the population gradually decreased as an increasing number of non-Christians joined the Empire. Mid-2017 saw the proportion of Christians back up to a significant majority with the cession of some Towns and the annexations of others that happened to be primarily atheist and Christian respectively, and Christianity is today professed by roughly two-thirds of the population.
As of July 2021, out of Austenasia's population of 116, the following religious affiliations are professed:
Austenasia has historically been a primarily Christian country. However, between 2013 and 2017, the proportion of Christians within the population gradually decreased as an increasing number of non-Christians joined the Empire. Mid-2017 saw the proportion of Christians back up to a significant majority with the cession of some Towns and the annexations of others that happened to be primarily atheist and Christian respectively, and Christianity is today professed by roughly two-thirds of the population.
As of July 2021, out of Austenasia's population of 116, the following religious affiliations are professed:
- Christian: 75 (64.66%)
- Muslim: 12 (10.34%)
- Hindu: 6 (5.17%)
- Other: 6 (5.17%)
- None: 17 (14.66%)
Christianity in Austenasia
From the founding of Austenasia in September 2008 until the introduction of the first non-residential subject in April 2010, the entirety of Austenasia's population identified as Methodist Christians. Indeed, two instances in 2009 - a Sunday in June, and Christmas Day - saw what was then the whole population of Austenasia attend the morning service at Carshalton Methodist Church, possibly the only times in history that an entire nation has been present at a single religious service. As the number of new subjects grew, so did the proportion of Methodists decline within Austenasia, and today it is professed by just 5.17% of the population.
As of July 2021, out of Austenasia's seventy five Christians, thirty four (45.33%) are Protestant, twenty six (34.67%) are Roman Catholic, eleven (14.67%) are Orthodox, two (2.67%) are Mormon, and two (2.67%) are Christian Druids.
In regards to the residential Austenasian population, Wrythe, Nahona, North Nahona, Blue Ridge, Oppidum Tubae, Caldari, and Dekker are predominantly Protestant, and Kingeston, Bregusland, Procyon and Pontunia are predominantly Roman Catholic. The Orthodox population of Austenasia is comprised primarily of the residents of Chersoneses, the former residents of the now dissolved Ionisia (who retained their Austenasian nationality), and several other individuals, the most prominent of whom is Emperor Jonathan I, who converted to Orthodoxy in 2011.
As of July 2021, out of Austenasia's seventy five Christians, thirty four (45.33%) are Protestant, twenty six (34.67%) are Roman Catholic, eleven (14.67%) are Orthodox, two (2.67%) are Mormon, and two (2.67%) are Christian Druids.
In regards to the residential Austenasian population, Wrythe, Nahona, North Nahona, Blue Ridge, Oppidum Tubae, Caldari, and Dekker are predominantly Protestant, and Kingeston, Bregusland, Procyon and Pontunia are predominantly Roman Catholic. The Orthodox population of Austenasia is comprised primarily of the residents of Chersoneses, the former residents of the now dissolved Ionisia (who retained their Austenasian nationality), and several other individuals, the most prominent of whom is Emperor Jonathan I, who converted to Orthodoxy in 2011.
Islam in Austenasia
Within Austenasia, the Town of Chalcedon and the Crown Dependency of Enfriqua are both entirely Muslim, making up the majority of the twelve Muslim Austenasians, whereas two others live in Trebizond. All twelve belong to the Sunni branch of Islam.
Hinduism in Austenasia
Of the six Hindu Austenasians, four are residents of the Crown Dependency of Imperia. Founded in October 2015, Imperia is an enclave of the Indian city of Nagpur. With five residents in total, 80% of its population is Hindu.
The other two Austenasian Hindus are non-residential subjects. One is Professor Sir Sanjib Bhattacharya, one of the Empire's most well-known and respected diplomats, who serves as Ambassador to India and Consul-General at Mumbai. Professor Bhattacharya was granted non-residential Austenasian subjectship by Parliament in March 2016 in gratitude for his services towards increasing the profile of Austenasia in India and the surrounding countries.
When the Austenasian Consulate-General in New Delhi was opened in April 2017, Austenasian diplomat Dr Kalra invited Hindu swami Acharya Sailesh Tiwari to officiate over a ceremony to bless the new establishment (pictured to the right).
The other two Austenasian Hindus are non-residential subjects. One is Professor Sir Sanjib Bhattacharya, one of the Empire's most well-known and respected diplomats, who serves as Ambassador to India and Consul-General at Mumbai. Professor Bhattacharya was granted non-residential Austenasian subjectship by Parliament in March 2016 in gratitude for his services towards increasing the profile of Austenasia in India and the surrounding countries.
When the Austenasian Consulate-General in New Delhi was opened in April 2017, Austenasian diplomat Dr Kalra invited Hindu swami Acharya Sailesh Tiwari to officiate over a ceremony to bless the new establishment (pictured to the right).