Dynamics of Catholicism in Latin America: Belonging and Believing in the Context of Religious Change

Abstract

This paper investigates three variables that have reshaped the identity of Catholicism in Latin American countries. The first relates to the conversion processes that have expanded the presence of Christian denominations. In this regard, we analyze the reasons behind the sense of belonging that these communities offer, which supports their growth and expansion. The second variable addresses those Catholics who continue to belong to the Catholic Church but have incorporated other magical or esoteric practices and beliefs in the form of religious syncretism, thereby altering their sense of being Catholic in the world. Finally, the third variable has a political reference and is linked to the concept of secularism. This concept aims not only at the separation of Church and State but, for historical reasons, at decatholicizing the public sphere, confining Catholicism to the private domain and allowing other religious groups to occupy the space vacated by the Catholic Church. From the perspective of political theology, this leads to the emergence of new non-Catholic Christian actors who influence the State and public policies.