Ethiopia: Reaction of the Religious Landscape to the Change in Religious Policy in the Middle of the 19th – early 21st Centuries

The article analyzes the changes in the state policy of Ethiopia towards religious organizations in 1855–1991 and how it impacted the structure of the state’s religious landscape. Reviled that the position of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) changed dramatically. In 1855–1930 EOC enjoyed broad support from the authorities, which install the principle "One country, one faith". At that time, three confessional zones were formed: the Northwestern Orthodox zone, the Eastern Muslim zone and the Southwestern ethnoreligious zone. The state’s support of the EOC included restrictions of the activities of other religious organizations. In 1930–1991 the principle "Whose realm, their religion" influenced Ethiopian religious policy. Despite the preservation of a EOC’s special status, some Islamic organizations received equal rights, which allowed them to expand their missionary activities. The Central polyconfessional zone was formed, where Islam and Orthodoxy were the main competing religions. After 1991 religious policy in Ethiopia has adapted the principle "No borders, only people". Elimination of legal barriers regarding religious organizations caused the intensification of religious competition due to the expansion of the activities of "non-traditional" faith-groups, especially Protestantism, which has become the largest religion in the Southwestern confessional zone and has significantly expanded in the Central polyconfessional zone. In other confessional zones changes in religious policy seems to be formal. It is indicated by a decrease in the share of religious minorities which still face discrimination. It seems that these changes have contributed to the growth of conflict in Ethiopian society.