| − | The Boers are mainly decsended from Dutch, German and French [[Calvinists]], who left Europe between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. The Boers had a distict Calvinist influence throughout their history, however it has varied from time to time. During the second half of the century, the [[Dutch Reformed Church in Africa]] was the state church of the Transvaal and Calvinism was also the national religion of the Orange Free State. Note the "Orange" in Orange Free State: it is named after the Protestant [[House of Orange]] in the Netherlands. Most Boers today are members of [[Reformed]] Churches and they represent aproximately 75% of the members of the [[Afrikaans Protestant Church]]. Boer Nationalists often stress the importance of Calvinism in Boer culture. In recent times, however, many Boers joined the [[Christian Identity]] movement. A very small number is also members of [[Baptist]] and [[Pentecostal]] Churches. | + | The Boers are mainly decsended from Dutch, German and French [[Calvinists]], who left Europe between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. The Boers had a distict Calvinist influence throughout their history, however it has varied from time to time. During the second half of the century, the [[Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) Church]] was the state church of the Transvaal and Calvinism was also the national religion of the Orange Free State. Note the "Orange" in Orange Free State: it is named after the Protestant [[House of Orange]] in the Netherlands. Most Boers today are members of [[Reformed]] Churches and they represent aproximately 75% of the members of the [[Afrikaans Protestant Church]]. Boer Nationalists also often stress the importance of Calvinism in Boer culture. In recent times, however, many Boers joined the [[Christian Identity]] movement. A very small number is also members of [[Baptist]] and [[Pentecostal]] Churches. |