Kazakhstan is a country with a very ancient and interesting religious history. Many religions crossed here, some of them are very ancient. Religion in Kazakhstan has a deep past, and it is worth a peek.
Pre-Islamic period
Long before Islam came to Kazakhstan, Tengrianism was prevalent here. In this belief, Tengri was considered the supreme god. Other deities were also called by this name, but information about them was hardly preserved.
The essence of this faith was to divide the world into three spaces: heavenly, earthly, and underground. Natural phenomena, elements had their own interpretation. This religion in Kazakhstan also had regional characteristics. Southern residents believed in the sanctity of the caves. In one of them, for example, women went to treat infertility. In the East, saints were appointed heads of related groups.
In Kazakhstan, pre-Islam was also dominated by shamanism. The supreme shaman performed rituals in contact with the spirits of his ancestors. Such sessions supposedly helped him heal people, find lost cattle and even manage nature.
The advent of Islam
Islam for several centuries penetrated into Kazakhstan. Religion, covering first the South of the country, already at the end of the 10th century spread widely in the Semirechye and on the coasts of the Syr Darya. However, some regions professed Christianity (Nestorianism), which came here in the 12th-13th centuries with naimans.
For some period, the development of Islam in Kazakhstan was suspended due to the conquest of territories by the Mongols. Turkic and Mongolian tribes at that time adhered to traditional religions. This trend persisted under Khan Berke during the Golden Horde, and Khan Uzbek further strengthened it. Sufi Muslims had to take their religion to the steppes. But soon the missionaries won the favor of the nomad leaders.
Every year, the Muslim religion in Kazakhstan has strengthened its position. Many mosques appeared, often built at the expense of private investments. The deep implementation of Sharia law in the life of the Kazakhs occurred during the reign of Sultan Aryn-Gaza.
The XIX century was marked by the influence of the steppe Tatars, who often became mullahs and performed an educational function, contributed to the development of culture and literacy. Later, among the Muslim Kazakhs, a modernist trend appears - Jadidism, which promotes teaching the secular sciences and education in general.
Current situation
So what is religion in Kazakhstan today? Currently, this Republic is multi-confessional. There are more than 3,000 religious associations. 40 denominations are represented by more than 2500 places of worship.
The main religion in Kazakhstan is Sunni Islam. There are over 1,600 Muslim associations; more than 1,500 mosques have been built. The number of Muslim residents of the country reaches almost 9 million, and this category is multinational.
Orthodox Christianity occupies the second place in the number of believers; its share is almost 30%. In addition, more than 300 thousand Catholics with a solid infrastructure live in Kazakhstan.
But this is not all religions in Kazakhstan. Among the citizens there are many Protestants, Jews, Buddhists, etc. After gaining independence, the first Buddhist temple was built here, a large number of new mosques, churches, churches, prayer houses, synagogues were erected.
Famous religious buildings
Magnificent buildings of various religious trends decorate the cities of the republic with their architecture, increasing its tourist attractiveness. Among the most famous:
1. Palace of Peace and Accord
2. Mosque Nur-Astana
3. Beit Rachel Synagogue - Hubbad Lubavitch
4. Holy Ascension Cathedral
5. Cathedral of Mother of God of Continuous Help
Nur-Astana is the largest mosque in Central Asia, and the Beit Rachel Synagogue - Habbad Lubavich, respectively, is the largest synagogue in this region.
Those who have ever been to this exotic country know how multinational Kazakhstan is. Religion and the freedom of its choice is one of the rights of citizens, which is effectively realized here. Tolerance and mutual respect in the relations of faiths is the best way to the harmonious development of society.