Short Title 1

Buddhism is the official religion of Cambodia, which professes about 95% percent of the population. Even Buddhism, in turn, is divided into two best-known religious schools, Hinayana and Mahayana, it is the latter adheres to most people in Cambodia, the Mahayana is no more than 5% of the Buddhists.

Second place in the number of believers is Islam, which emerged in Cambodia, the 15-16 centuries, and which professes to about 200 thousand people, mainly Chams and the Malays. Just as Buddhism, Islam has its own peculiarities in religious interpretation, and is divided into two branches: the orthodox and traditionalist.

Short Title 2

Among the followers of these branches have always been disagreements, which sometimes moved into direct collision. Khmer Rouge regime in the avoided and their party in the 70's were destroyed almost all the clergy, only a small fraction survived the genocide, destruction of mosques and religious ceremonies are forbidden under pain of death. Only at the end of the 80's strength the community has reached the prewar level.

Christianity is also present in Cambodia, came with the Spaniards and Portuguese in the 14-15 centuries, in the late 18 th century the French also led missionary activities, but despite all efforts, Christianity took on a mass character and according to various sources is not more than 1% of the population Cambodia to his confession. During the Civil War, almost all the priests also were killed, churches destroyed, worship is prohibited and only in the early 90-ies started the revival of Christianity.

Short Title 3

In addition to Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity among the Cambodians had their own traditional beliefs, such as local deities, ancestral spirits, and evil spirits. Their existence was confirmed by inscriptions or manuscripts, but they are rarely used in modern Cambodia, and preserved in remote villages. These beliefs are passed from one generation to another in words.