Editing Flanders (section)

=== Religion ===
{{Further|Religion in Belgium}}
[[File:Houthalen - Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Zeven Weeënkerk.jpg|thumb|left|A church in [[Houthalen]]. A typical church, similar to those in many villages in Flanders]]

The Belgian constitution provides for [[Freedom of religion in Belgium|freedom of religion]], and the various governments in general respect this right in practice. Since independence, [[Catholicism]], counterbalanced by strong [[freethought]] movements, has had an important role in Belgium's politics, since the 20th century in Flanders mainly via the Christian trade union [[Confederation of Christian Trade Unions|ACV]] and the [[Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams|Christian Democratic and Flemish]] party (CD&V). According to the ''2001 Survey and Study of Religion'', about 47 percent of the Belgian population identify themselves as belonging to the Catholic Church, while Islam is the second-largest religion at 3.5 percent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Belgium|work=International Religious Freedom Report 2004|year=2004|publisher=US Department of State, [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]]|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35444.htm|access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> A 2006 inquiry in Flanders, considered more religious than Wallonia, showed that 55% considered themselves religious, and 36% believed that God created the world.<ref>Inquiry by 'Vepec', 'Vereniging voor Promotie en Communicatie' (Organisation for Promotion and Communication), published in Knack magazine 22 November 2006 p. 14 The Dutch language term 'gelovig' is in the text translated as 'religious', more precisely it is a very common word for believing in particular in any kind of God in a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] sense, and/or in some [[afterlife]].</ref>

Jews [[History of the Jews in Belgium|have been present]] in Flanders for a long time, in particular [[History of the Jews in Antwerp|in Antwerp]]. More recently, Muslims have immigrated to Flanders, now forming the largest minority religion with about 3.9% in the Flemish Region and 25% in Brussels.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} Jan Hertogen, [http://www.indymedia.be/en/node/29363 In België wonen 628.751 moslims] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924073507/http://www.indymedia.be/en/node/29363 |date=24 September 2009 }}, Indymedia, 12 September 2008</ref> The largest Muslim group is Moroccan in origin, while the second largest is Turkish in origin.