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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In Belgium, Roman Catholicism is the majority religion, accounting for between 75% and 80% of the population, although nowadays (as of 2004) only about 10% to 20% of the population regularly goes to church. Other religions widely practiced in Belgium are Islam, Protestantism, and Judaism.
Religion was one of the differences between the Roman Catholic south and the Protestant north of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which eventually broke up in 1830 when the south seceded to form Belgium. This accounts for the preponderance of Catholics there nowadays.
Since 1830, Catholicism has had also an important role in Belgium's politics. One example is the so-called "school wars" ("guerres scolaires" in French) between liberals and Catholics which took place between 1879 and 1884 for the first one and between 1954 and 1958 for the second one.
Another important controversy happened in 1990 when the catholic and very religuous king Baudouin did refused to give his signature to a bill liberalising Belgium's abortion laws, which had previously been approved by parliament.
Between World War I and World War II the centre of occult and mystical activity was shifted from France to Belgium. Belgium became the main centre for many brotherhoods and secret societies of which many branches still exist today.
Belgium's French-speaking  region has officially recognised 43 mosques, thus giving Islam the same rights as accorded to other religions in the region.  They will be permitted to build minarets on their mosques, and Imams will be added to the government payroll, as is the case - for example - with Catholic priests.

Moves are afoot to apply for official recognition of a number of mosques in the other two main regions of Belgium: , and Flemish-speaking .

Most of the immigrant population in Belgium are Muslims, but until now the mosques were not yet officially recognised. The traditional faith in Belgium is . Other minor faiths are , , and . 

 also recently applied for official recognition as a religion in Belgium.