Modern Religion in Latin America

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Modern Religion in Latin America
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Catholicism.....WOW!!!

• The majority of Latin Americans are Christians
• Roman Catholics make up the majority of
  Christians
• The official religion since the establishment of
  Spanish Rule

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Religious Shift

• Roman Catholicism is steadily declining in Latin
  America..but
• Protestant Churches are becoming much more
  popular

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Catholic Personnel in South America
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Decentralization of Catholicism cont.

• By the 20th Century most countrys constitutions
  guaranteed religious freedom to its members
• Public education expands
• A switch from a militarily run country to a
  civilian run country became a strong aspect in
  the decentralization of Catholicism

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The Role of the Vatican in the Decentralization
of Catholicism

• In 1963 pope John XXIII published Pacim in Terras
  (Peace on Earth)
• In 1965 the Second Vatican Council endorsed the
  Dignitatis Humanae (Decree of Religious Freedom)
• Catholic Church officially endorses religious
  freedom

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Protestantism

• Has been on the rise since the decentralization
  of Catholicism
• 2 types
• Mainline Protestants
• Maintained a good relationship with the Catholic
  Church
• Spread inactively
• Evangelical Protestants
• Were much harder for the Catholic church to work
  with
• Were eventually denounced by the Catholic Church
• Actively spread their faith

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Panning Out???

• Recent statistics seem to indicate that the
  percentage of Protestants in many countries is
  panning out or even declining
• Possibly due to the constantly increasing speed
  of globalization

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Percentage of Protestants, Census or Estimated
Percentages 2003, 2005
Number of Protestants Census or Estimated
Percentages
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And Some Still Practice

• Santeria
• Hierarchical priesthood
• Practiced in Cuba, the Caribbean, Panama,
  Venezuela, Columbia, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and
  others
• Candomble
• Similar to Santeria
• Practiced mainly in Brazil
• Umbanda
• Belief in a single god
• Based on Karmic Law and Christian Charity

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Remaining Indigenous Practices Cont.

• Voodoo
• All creation is divine
• Allows manipulation of these divine forces within
  the universe
• Voodoo Doll
• Macumba
• Vaguely defined
• Wide variety of non-static beliefs
• Use of jungle plants

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Conclusions?

• Still Predominantly Roman Catholic
• Rising, possibly panning out of Protestantism
• Decline in/Splitting of many native religions and
  practices
• Globalization