| Religious beliefs in Spain are changing. | | | | struggles between the Catholics, Islamists, Judaists |
| Although still about 90% of Spaniards are still Roman | | | | and Protestants. It was during the Spanish Inquisition |
| Catholics religion in Spain has begun to accept other | | | | that Catholicism really took a hold as the Christian |
| religions in to their culture. In fact in Spain today you | | | | Spaniards fought hard to drive the Moors from the |
| will find that there are about 300,000 Muslims living in | | | | country. However the inquisition was finally got rid of |
| the country along with about 250,000 protestants | | | | in the 1830's. However even after this religious |
| (Evengelists, Mormons, Lutherans, Baptists etc) as | | | | freedom was often denied. Then in 1851 Catholicism |
| well as about 15,000 Jews who are most Sephardic. | | | | became the states religion and a pact was signed by |
| These particular Jews came from the countries of | | | | the Spanish Government (Concordat) which meant |
| North Africa and have now settled in the large urban | | | | that Madrid had to pay the salaries of the clergy and |
| areas such as Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and Cordoba. | | | | to subsidize any other expenses that the Roman |
| One great big change that has occurred in the last | | | | Catholic Church may incur in order to compensate |
| few years is that many Catholics living in Spain no | | | | them for the seizure of monachal property. However |
| longer attend weekly services at their local change in | | | | this pact was then renounced in 1931 and which |
| fact only about 75% of the Catholics that live in | | | | threatened the very existence of the Church in Spain. |
| Spain will attend church on a regular weekly basis. | | | | Because of this the church provided support to |
| However what you will find with Spanish Roman | | | | General Franco during the uprising that occurred in |
| Catholics is that they are religious in a uniquely | | | | 1936. |
| Spanish way and this religion continues to play a | | | | However both religious beliefs and religion in Spain is |
| major role in the life of this country. Certainly the | | | | much more diverse and certainly things are slowly |
| religion that you find in Spain today has been shaped | | | | changing and there could be an even greater number |
| by Roman control and only really begun to be | | | | of people who will be included into the Spanish culture |
| established during the 2nd Century. Certainly for | | | | who practice different religions in the future. |
| many centuries Spain is a nation born out of religious | | | | |