Adherents

Christianity is by far the most common faith in Liberia, with recent surveys showing Christians making up 83-86% of the population, up significantly from surveys in the 1980s. By contrast, Islam has declined slightly from 14-15% in the 1980s to 11-12% in recent surveys. Traditional religions and non-religious individuals have seen greater declines.

Christianity

Christian denominations include Baptist, African Methodist Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal Zion churches, Presbyterian, Nazarene Anglican, Lutheran, and a variety of Pentecostal churches. Some of the Pentecostal movements are affiliated with churches outside the country, while others are independent. There are also adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, and the Catholic Church. Christians live throughout the country.

In a religious context, the term kwi connotes a style of worship of a particular Christian church which is marked by formality and decorum.^[8] Kwi is a Liberian term used to connote Westernization.^[9] Services in churches considered to be non-kwi have more outward spiritualist expression, with dancing and even street processions in colorful costumes as key elements. Non-kwi churches also have self-proclaimed prophets who interpret dreams and visions, and prioritize a direct experience with the Holy Spirit. Liberia's educated elite have historically regarded the apostolic churches as churches of the uneducated and thus non-kwi.^[8]

The Lutheran hymn 'Come, Let Us Eat' was translated from Loma, a language spoken in Liberia. It was composed in the 1960s by Billema Kwillia, who converted to Christianity.^[10]

Islam

The Muslim population is mainly found among the Mandingo, Gola and the Vai ethnic groups.^[11] The Vai and Gola live predominantly in the west. Mandingo reside throughout the country.

Traditional beliefs

Regardless of public statements of identification with Christianity, a "vast majority"^[12] of Liberians believe in a supernatural world of ancestral and bush spirits that impact daily life.^[12] Ethnic groups in all regions of Liberia participate in the traditional religious practices of the Poro and Sande secret societies, with the exception of the Krahn ethnic group, who have their own secret society.^[13]

"Liberian religious culture is characterised by a predisposition towards secrecy (encapsulated in the concept of ifa mo - "do not speak it") and an ingrained belief in the intervention of mysterious forces in human affairs".^[13] "Both elite and non-elite Liberians usually attribute events to the activities of secret powers and forces".^[14]

"Beliefs include the conviction that there are deep and hidden things about an individual that only diviners, priests, and other qualified persons can unravel.^[12] This presupposes that whatever exists or happens in the physical realm has foundations in the spirit world".^[12]

Bahai

The Bahá'í Faith in Liberia begins with the entrance of the first member of the religion in 1952.^[17] By the end of 1963 there were five assemblies^[18] and Liberian Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1975.^[19] The community was somewhat disrupted by the First Liberian Civil War^[20] but re-established their National Spiritual Assembly in 1998.^[21] Almost 9,500 Bahá'ís are believed to have been in Liberia in 2006.^[22]