SUMMARY

Christians are a minority in Indonesia, accounting, as of 2000, for little under 10% of the total population of the country. Christianity came to Indonesia as part of the missionary activities of the Dutch colonial administration starting in the 17th century. Almost two thirds of Christians in Indonesia are Protestants, affiliated to one of the many denominations present in the country, the rest being Catholic. The Indonesian state recognises and officially treats Christians as belonging to two separate religious minorities (Kristen or Protestan for adherents to Protestant churches and Katolik for Catholics).

Within Indonesia, most Protestants are grouped around regional churches, many of these churches grouped in larger organizations such as Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Indonesia (Union of Churches in Indonesia).

Christianity in Indonesia, however, is not evenly spread geographically. Within the Maluku Islands, the scene of the most violent sectarian clashes, Christians have constituted approximately half the population ever since Indonesias independence. Further, political power wielded by various Christian organisations and patronage networks is not evenly spread - while Christians have had relatively little say in the actions of Indonesias central government, they have traditionally dominated the local administration within Ambon and the Maluku islands. Further, churches such as the Gereja Protestan Maluku (Maluku Protestant Church) or Gereja Protestan Indonesia (Protestant Church of Indonesia) wielded substantial influence in the Malukus.

While sectarian violence does not characterize most Christian communities in Indonesia, there were some significant such incidents, mainly in the Maluku Islands.

Christians of Indonesia have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.