Christianity in Oman

Christianity is the religion of 3.63% of the population of Oman in 2020.^[1] Ninety Christian congregations exist in the country.^[2]

There is little official record of Christianity in Oman until the arrival of the Portuguese in 1504, but ruins from what is thought to have been a church were located in Suhar.^[3] Additionally, Chronicle of Arbela tells of a diocese at Bet Mazunaye, an area which included Oman. However, the authenticity of the sixth-century text is disputed amongst scholars.^[4]

Almost all Christians in Oman are from other countries.^[5] Most of them are from the Philippines, India or Western countries, and they are concentrated in the country's urban areas: Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah.^[6]^[7] For many Christians living and working outside these areas, going to church is inaccessible and therefore only happens on occasion.^[8] At least one St. Thomas Christian church was present in Oman in 2007, and more than 50 different Christian groups, fellowships, and assemblies are active in the Muscat metropolitan area.^[9]^[10] The Protestant Church of Oman, the Catholic Diocese of Oman and the al Amana Center (interdenominational Christian) are recognized by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.^[11] There is also a Christian cemetery located in Muscat, operated by the Petroleum Development Oman.^[3]

Islam is the official state religion, but Article 28 of the Omani constitution protects freedom of religious practices as long as they do not violate Islamic law.^[12] Therefore, Christians in Oman enjoy a considerable amount of religious freedom, although they are bound to strict rules. For example, Christians must practice on specific land that the government has allocated for them. It is also difficult for churches to get permits for construction, and permission to host public religious gatherings is challenging to attain. Private gatherings are prohibited, although this law is not always strictly enforced.^[13]

Proselytizing in public is forbidden.^[14] There are, however, cases in which a Muslim will adopt the Christian faith, secretly declaring their conversion. In effect, they are practicing Christians, but legally Muslims; thus, the statistics of Omani Christians does not include Muslim converts to Christianity. Instruction in Islam is compulsory in public schools, but non-Muslims can be exempted from this.^[15] A 2015 study estimates a mere 200 believers in Christ from a Muslim background live in the country, and not all of those are necessarily citizens.^[16]

^ World Religions Database at the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
^ "Middle East OMAN". CIA The World Factbook.
^ ^a ^b Peterson, J.E. (Winter 2014). "Oman's Diverse Society: Northern Oman". Middle East Journal. 58 (1): 49. JSTOR 4329973.
^ Carter, R.A. (1 May 2008). "Christianity in the Gulf during the first centuries of Islam". Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy. 19 (1): 71–108. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0471.2008.00293.x.
^ "Operation World". Archived from the original on 5 September 2005.
^ "Commission Magazine on international Christian Missions". Archived from the original on 23 November 2018.
^ "OMAN 2018 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT" (PDF). U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
^ Skinner, Raymond F. "Ibadism in Oman and developments in the field of Christian-Muslim relationships" (PDF). Durham E-Theses. Durham University. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
^ "U. S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2007". 14 September 2007.
^ "Central Valley Christian Schools". Archived from the original on 24 February 2008.
^ US State Dept 2022 report
^ "Oman's Constitution of 1996 with Amendments through 2011" (PDF). The Constitution Project. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
^ "FINAL WWL 2019 COUNTRY DOSSIER" (PDF). Open Door. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
^ US State Dept 2022 report
^ US State Dept 2022 report
^ Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christianity from a Muslim Background: a global census". IJRR. 11: 17. Retrieved 18 November 2015.

[1] World Religions Database at the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08

[CIATONGA-2] "Middle East OMAN". CIA The World Factbook.

[peterson-3] Peterson, J.E. (Winter 2014). "Oman's Diverse Society: Northern Oman". Middle East Journal. 58 (1): 49. JSTOR 4329973.

[4] Carter, R.A. (1 May 2008). "Christianity in the Gulf during the first centuries of Islam". Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy. 19 (1): 71–108. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0471.2008.00293.x.

[5] "Operation World". Archived from the original on 5 September 2005.

[6] "Commission Magazine on international Christian Missions". Archived from the original on 23 November 2018.

[7] "OMAN 2018 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT" (PDF). U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

[8] Skinner, Raymond F. "Ibadism in Oman and developments in the field of Christian-Muslim relationships" (PDF). Durham E-Theses. Durham University. Retrieved 8 November 2019.

[state2007-9] "U. S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2007". 14 September 2007.

[10] "Central Valley Christian Schools". Archived from the original on 24 February 2008.

[11] US State Dept 2022 report

[12] "Oman's Constitution of 1996 with Amendments through 2011" (PDF). The Constitution Project. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

[13] "FINAL WWL 2019 COUNTRY DOSSIER" (PDF). Open Door. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.

[14] US State Dept 2022 report

[15] US State Dept 2022 report

[16] Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christianity from a Muslim Background: a global census". IJRR. 11: 17. Retrieved 18 November 2015.

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