Indonesia is an archipelago nation with diverse cultures, islands, languages, and religions. Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua, Maluku, Bali, and other islands have a majority religion that is respected in each region. Papua, for example, which has the majority religion in West Papua
West Papua Province
Papua province and the entire territory of Papua were originally known as Irian Jaya. However, in 2003, the province of Papua was separated into two parts: west Papua, also known as West Papua, and east Papua, also known as Papua.
With a population of over 2.3 million people and tropical rainforest areas covering more than 71% of the land area. Due to the multiple rocky valleys and high mountains that extend over the Papua area, it is hard to enter.
Papua province is Indonesia’s largest, therefore it’s no surprise that it has a high population. The diversity of beliefs or religions followed by the people of Papua cannot be separated from the area’s enormous population. Such as the majority religion in West Papua also diverse.
The total of West Papua population about 1,134,068 people in 2020. West Papua is divided into 12 districts and covers an area of 102,955.15 km2.
Diversity in West Papua
The region’s prosperity is symbolized by difference. The diversity of a place will encourage the area to become one and compliments each other. As an example, consider the diversity in West Papua.
1. Ethnic Groups
Ethnic groups in West Papua are diverse. 51.47% came from indigenous Papuan tribes such as arfak, yapen, biak, and indigenous tribes from West Papua. Others are javanese, maluku, sulawesi, bugis, makassar, ntt, minahasa, batak, sunda, and others.
2. culture
West Papua’s identity is represented by the arfak tribe. The tribes of Arfak have always been proud of their tribalism. As a result, if an arfak tribe member leaves the area, they will still be recognized as their member. The arfak tribe’s weaponry is machetes, bows, and arrows.
3. Religion
The majority religion in West Papua is Protestant Christians. Religion Christian is widely practiced by the people of West Papua. The majority of Christians (50.70%), followed by Religion Islam (41.27%).
Although religion in West Papua‘s population is Christian, they practice Protestant Christianity rather than Catholic Christianity. In West Papua, the percentage of Catholic Christianity devotees is approximately 7.70%, which is lower than the number of protestant Christians.
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism follow with 0.12 percent, 0.08 percent, and 0.01 percent, respectively. Protestant Christianity and Islam are the most generally practiced religions among West Papuans, according to this percentage.
4. Language
Prostestan Christianity religion is the majority religion in West Papua. In addition to religion, West Papua has a majority language that is widely spoken in addition to Indonesian.
The majority language is Malay Papua, which is utilized for communication as well as business. Ambon Malay and Manado Malay are both comparable to Malay Papua language.
However, the use of regional languages in West Papua is in endangered. This is due to a lack of language users. With time, Indonesian becomes a language utilized in West Papua, particularly while conducting business with migrant sellers.
After learning more about the province of West Papua, it was discovered that the majority religion in West Papua is more Protestant Christianity. Religion in Papua is growing in popularity, whether it is Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or another religion.
Nonetheless, they continue to live in harmony and mutual respect among religious people. In this way, Indonesia can be a country that tolerates religious people; regardless of faith, tribe, or region, everyone must respect one another.
