Religion in Kazakhstan

[4] There are a total of 3,000 mosques,[5] all of them affiliated with the "Spiritual Association of Muslims of Kazakhstan", headed by a supreme mufti.

[7] In 2011, other Christian groups in the country included Catholics and Protestants (Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Methodists, Mennonites and Seventh-day Adventists), including restorationist Christian faiths such as Jehovah's Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

[9] Christmas, rendered in the Russian Orthodox manner according to the Julian calendar, is recognized as a national holiday in Kazakhstan.

[5] The government considers several religions as 'traditional', including Hanafi Sunni Islam, the Russian Orthodox Church, Greek and Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Judaism; some parts of the country can be wary of members of 'nontraditional' minority religious groups.

The foundation of an independent republic, following the disintegration of the USSR, has launched a great deal of changes in every aspect of people's lives.

[11] After decades of suppressed culture, the people were feeling a great need to exhibit their ethnic identity - in part through religion.

[24] By 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Kazakhstan was elected[25] and the community has begun to multiply its efforts across various interests.

[27][28] Buddhism has existed in Kazakhstan since the 17th century, which is evidenced by the ancient pagodas and temples discovered by scientists during excavations.

[30] Tengrism is a Central Asian religion characterized by shamanism, animism, totemism, poly- and monotheism and ancestor worship.

By living an upright, respectful life, a human will keep his world in balance and perfect his personal Wind Horse, or spirit.

The Huns of the northern Caucasus reportedly believed in two gods: Tangri Han (or Tengri Khan), considered identical to the Persian Aspandiat and for whom horses were sacrificed, and Kuar (whose victims are struck by lightning).

Tengrism is practiced in Kazakhstan, Sakha, Buryatia, Tuva and Mongolia in parallel with Tibetan Buddhism and Burkhanism.

However, some reported occurrences of persecution against Hare Krishnas and Jehovah's Witnesses for proselytizing have raised concern in the international community.

As of the 2021 census:[16] According to the 2009 Census data, most of the Central Asian Turkics are Muslims and Slavs are Orthodox (although more than 1% of Russians are Muslim), while Koreans are mixed between various different faiths including Christianity, Buddhism, Atheism, and Islam :[37] This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.