Christianity in Latin America

Latin America: A Predominantly Christian Region

Latin America has a significant Christian population, encompassing:

  • 25 countries
  • Approximately 617 million people
  • Primary languages: Portuguese and Spanish
  • Hundreds of local languages

Latin America is defined by:

  • Geography
  • Countries with a history of colonialism under Spain and Portugal
  • The term "Latin America" originates from the Latin-based languages of Spanish and Portuguese.

The Arrival of Christianity in Latin America

Christianity arrived with colonialism during the Age of Discovery (late 15th-16th centuries).

  • Explorers from Spain and Portugal landed in South America, the Bahamas, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
  • Christopher Columbus is a prominent figure from this era.
  • Europeans claimed and divided South America to exploit its resources.
  • Spain and Portugal, as Catholic countries, sent missionaries (primarily priests and monks) with their explorers.
  • Political control was reinforced by establishing Catholic Christianity as the official religion in the colonies.
  • Requerimiento: A policy requiring local populations to allow Christianity to flourish and, in some cases, to convert or be baptized.
  • Franciscan and Jesuit orders established missions throughout Latin America.
    • Examples include missions in California and Texas.
  • Catholicism was present in what is now the United States before Protestantism.
  • Catholic Christianity became well-established over several centuries.

Shifts in Christianity after Independence

In the early 1800s, Latin American countries gained independence. Catholicism remained the majority religion but major shifts occurred, especially in the 20th century:

  • Development of Liberation Theology
  • Growth of Pentecostalism

Liberation Theology

Liberation Theology emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, influenced by political events and the impact of European and North American political forces on economic disparity within South America.

  • A small minority of the population was very wealthy, while the majority lived in poverty.
  • The Catholic Church hierarchy tended to align with and support the powerful and wealthy.
  • Liberation Theology aimed to shift the Church's priority towards the poor and oppressed.

It focused on three areas of liberation:

  • Existential Liberation: Freedom from fatalism (the feeling that circumstances are unchangeable).
    • Sought to liberate people from the feeling that they could not improve their situation.
  • Theological Liberation: Freedom from sin to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • Political Liberation: The Church should be involved in addressing political oppression and economic policies that perpetuate poverty.
    • The Church should support the oppressed and speak against political corruption.

The movement began in the 1960s and continues to the present, influencing movements like the civil rights movement and African American liberation theology.

Pentecostalism

Pentecostalism is the fastest-growing branch of Christianity globally and is very appealing in Latin America.

  • Originated in the United States around 1906.
  • Missionaries were sent to Latin America shortly after its emergence.
  • It gained traction among both Protestants and Catholics (Pentecostal Catholics exist in Latin America).

Pentecostalism's appeal

  • Its compatibility with aspects of Latin American Culture:

    • Musical style transitions naturally to Latin American musical styles.
    • Preaching style is conversational and free-flowing.

  • Emphasis on healing, which appeals to those living in poverty with limited access to medical care.

  • Strong appeal to the poor and outsiders:

    • Emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit levels the playing field, reducing the need for expensive resources like fancy buildings or education.
    • Lack of a strict socioeconomic hierarchy.

Pentecostalism provides a sense of belonging for those who felt like outsiders in the Catholic Church.

Conclusion

While the majority of South America remains Roman Catholic, Liberation Theology (founded by Roman Catholic priests) and Pentecostalism have significantly shaped Christianity in Latin America.

  • These movements are distinctive aspects of Christianity in South America.