Religion in Latin America

The pre-Columbian religions: The religions and belief systems of the indigenous peoples of Latin America before the arrival of European colonizers.

The arrival of Christianity: The history of Christianity in Latin America, including its introduction by Spanish and Portuguese colonizers and subsequent spread across the continent.

Syncretism: The blending of indigenous religious beliefs and practices with Christianity, resulting in unique and distinct religious traditions.

Liberation theology: A movement within the Catholic Church in Latin America that emphasizes social justice and the fight against poverty and oppression.

Pentecostalism: A Protestant movement that has experienced significant growth in Latin America since the mid-20th century, with emphasis on spiritual gifts and miracles.

Afro-Latin American religions: A diverse set of religious practices that originated in Africa but were brought to Latin America through the transatlantic slave trade.

Indigenous resistance movements: The various movements among indigenous communities to resist assimilation and colonization, often including religious and cultural resistance.

Mariology: The veneration of the Virgin Mary in Latin American Catholicism, often incorporating indigenous and syncretic beliefs.

The role of religion in politics: The intersection of religion and politics in Latin American history, including the relationship between the Catholic Church and authoritarian regimes.

Contemporary religious and spiritual practices: The diverse and evolving religious and spiritual practices in Latin America today, including neopaganism, alternative healing practices, and new religious movements.

Roman Catholicism: The predominant religion in Latin America, with a history dating back to the arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese colonizers. The belief centers around the teachings of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus Christ, thus giving a central role to the Virgin Mary and the Pope.

Protestantism: A rapidly growing religion in Latin America, brought by British and American missionaries during the 19th century. Protestantism encompasses various denominations including Methodism, Pentecostalism, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventists, and Mormons.

Spiritualism: This belief system centers on communication with spirits, including the dead and other entities of various realms beyond life. It has indigenous roots and has been practiced throughout Latin America for centuries.

Santeria: A belief system that originated in West Africa and was brought to Latin America by slaves. Santeria is a combination of African, Catholic, and Indigenous beliefs, emphasizing communication with spirits to bring good fortune and solve personal problems.

Judaism: There is a small, yet significant Jewish population in Latin America centered in places like Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil.

Islam: Islam has a growing presence in Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.

Voodoo: This religion has a significant presence in Haiti and parts of the Caribbean, originating from the mixing of Catholicism and African religions.

Baha'i faith: A relatively new religion that has gained some traction in Latin America, with particular strength in Chile.

Atheism: In the contemporary era, there is a growing number of people in Latin America who do not believe or practice any religion.