Mongolhun
Apr 18, 2006, 15:41
Religion
Mongolia used to be the second, after Tibet , stronghold of Buddhist religion. In the turn of 20th century each and every family was obliged to send one of their children to a monastery to become monk. .
However, with the arrival of Communists in 20s, the religion was severely repressed, and all but one monastery destroyed. More than 30,000 monks and priests were executed and another 70,000 exiled or imprisoned. In seven decades Buddhism was almost eradicated, but the liberalization of 1990 allowed its peaceful revival. Now more than 140 Buddhist monasteries have been set up anew.
Under this newly found freedom of belief, other religions flocked in, including more than 30, mostly Christian, churches and cults. Another popular religion is Islam practiced by a 60,000 strong Kazakh minority in Bayan Ulgii province.
Mongolia used to be the second, after Tibet , stronghold of Buddhist religion. In the turn of 20th century each and every family was obliged to send one of their children to a monastery to become monk. .
However, with the arrival of Communists in 20s, the religion was severely repressed, and all but one monastery destroyed. More than 30,000 monks and priests were executed and another 70,000 exiled or imprisoned. In seven decades Buddhism was almost eradicated, but the liberalization of 1990 allowed its peaceful revival. Now more than 140 Buddhist monasteries have been set up anew.
Under this newly found freedom of belief, other religions flocked in, including more than 30, mostly Christian, churches and cults. Another popular religion is Islam practiced by a 60,000 strong Kazakh minority in Bayan Ulgii province.