In the 16th century the Portuguese came to Indonesia and brought with them Roman Catholicism. But it was the Dutch who managed to subdue Java, Indonesia, occupying it for 350 years. During their occupation missionaries arrived bringing with them Protestant Christianity. After defeating the Dutch, the Japanese occupied Indonesia in 1942. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese power was defeated and the British ruled briefly over Indonesia. The Dutch, with the backing of the Allied Armies, wanted to return to Indonesia. The Indonesian people fought bravely against the colonialists, continuing their long struggle of fighting against foreign occupation. Finally Indonesia gained its independence on August 17, 1945, and became the modern Republic of Indonesia.
Indonesia has many ethnic and religious groups owing to the nature of the land and its history, Since its independence, the modern state of Indonesia recognizes only those religions, which existed and took active parts during the struggle for independence. The State Department of Religion recognizes only Islam, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Every religion must be categorized under these five recognized religions or be considered illegal.