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Mexico is one of three major Latin American countries along with Brazil and Argentina. Thus religious developments there are especially interesting. Each of the three countries are radically different and represent the demographic pathways followed throughout Latin America. Patterns which have profoundly impacted society, including religion. Argentina is a basically European country. The indigenous people were largely wiped out, although leaving a DNA imprint. Brazil's indigenous population was also wiped out, but replaced by captive Africans. Mexico's indigenous population was conquered, but not wiped out leading to a mestizo nation. This had profound religious consequences because the indigenous people had deeply held religious beliefs that could be suppressed, but not eliminted. Mexico like most of Latin America today is a predominantly Christian nation, strongly Catholic. Of great interest are the Amer-Indian religions. Mexico, namely Meso-America, was a hot-point for the development of religious beliefs--a kind of Latin America Holy Land--like Palestine. We cover this our Aztec and Maya sections. There of course were countless other Amer-Indian peoples, but most share the same central beliefs. The Spanish with the Conquista (15th century) and Inquisition, suppressed, but did not destroy these religions. Some of their beliefs were incorporated into Catholicism. Others beliefs went underground and became part of Amer-Indian cultural religious beliefs. The Spanish introduced Christianity, forcibly demanding adherence to Catholicism. The Inquisition not only stamped out the Amer-Indian regions, but as in Spain prevented the entry of Protestantism and Judaism. As a result, Christianity became the predominant religion in Mexico. Over 90 percent of Mexicans identify as Christian. But this is misleading. Mexicans and Latin Americans in general are culturally Christian. But this do not transfer into religious observation, especially for men. Commonly we see women and children in church--not men. And we mostly see middle-aged and older women in church. Also the Church has found recruiting priests is a problem. While many Mexicans do not practice their religion. Many children, however, even in non-observant families do celebrate First Communion. A substantial majority of Mexicans, some 75 percent of Mexicans identify as Roman Catholic. This means the largest religious group is Roman Catholic. Since the Mexican Revolution (1910-20), the percentage of Mexican Catholics has been declining. Data on this is imprecise. Also important in Mexico is the Christero War following the Revolution(1926-29). This was a cultural phenomenon in central and western Mexico not experienced in other Latin American countries. One source reports that the percent of Roman Catholics has plummet from 99 percent (1910) to host over 75 percent (2020). Again this means culturally Catholic not actual observing Catholics. One factor is the increasing membership of other Christian denominations, especially Protestantism. Protestants are now believed to account for over 10 percent of the country' population. And with Protestants, these people are not just culturally Protestant, they tend to be actually observant Christians. Before World War II Protestantism was negligible--less than percent of the population. Many denominations are involved, but Evangelicals are especially important. Jehovah's Witnesses are also important. Data often includes Mormons with the Protestants. Mormons are non-Catholic, but are not Protestant. Nearly 10 percent of the population identifies as non-religious> This includes actual atheists, agnostics, and those who simply do not adhere to any organize religious group. There are other non-Christian religions groups, but they make up a small part of the Mexican population, including Judaism and Islam. The Muslim population has increased in some Latin American countries during recent years, but has made few inroad in Mexico. We suspect the substantial population of heavily Catholocized indigenous and mestizo peoples is a factor. There are also some Mexicans who adhere to indigenous or folk religions. While the numbers who formally adhere to indigenous/folk religion is small. The numbers who are influenced and or engaged in cultural practices reflecting these religions is substantial. And of course here we are talking primarily about the continuing influence of the unorganized Amer-Indian religion suppressed by the Spanish.
Mexico is one of three major Latin American countries along with Brazil and Argentina. Thus religious developments there are especially interesting. Each of the three countries are radically different and represent the demographic pathways followed throughout Latin America. Patterns which have profoundly impacted society, including religion. Argentina is a basically European country. The indigenous people were largely wiped out, although leaving a DNA imprint. Brazil's indigenous population was also wiped out, but replaced by captive Africans. Mexico's indigenous population was conquered, but not wiped out leading to a mestizo nation. This had profound religious consequences because the indigenous people had deeply held religious beliefs that could be suppressed, but not eliminted.
Of great interest are the Amer-Indian religions. Mexico, namely Meso-America, was a hot-point for the development of religious beliefs--a kind of Latin America Holy Land--like Palestine. This suggests a mother culture--probablt the Olmecs. We address religion in our Aztec and Maya sections. There of course were countless other Amer-Indian peoples, but most share many of the same core beliefs. These relogions, including the sculptures, relious texts and organized practice was supressed by the Spanish. But the deeply held cultural idea have persisted even in Mestizo culture. We note celebrations that are a mixture of Christian and Amer-Indian traditions. Here we see a young teenager who looks like a 'muxe'. For the Zapotec, this is a man taking on a feminine appearance and having a social and even religious role in traditional rituals. Most Amerricans today are familiar with Cinco de Mayo, but the most authentcally Mexicans od all of the county's holidays is the day of the Dead--Dia de los Muertos. It is tradiionally celbrated on November 1 and 2, although there are regional differences. Family and friends gathering to offer respects and remember lostfriends and family members. It is not a sid time because the ememberances can recall amusing events and anecdotes about the loved ones who have passed. The observance falls during Chtistain Allhallowtide. Itis widely believed, however, that there are indigenous Amer-Indian influenes. And as part of the Christainixzation process, Ameri-Indians beliefs were commonlywoven into the Chritian fabric of Mexican socierty, incluing religion.
Mexico like most of Latin America today is a predominantly Christian nation, strongly Catholic. The Spanish with theA href="/chron/na/conq/nac-ca.html">Conquista (15th century) and Inquisition, suppressed, but did not extinguish these religions. Some of their beliefs were incorporated into Catholicism. Others beliefs went underground and became part of Amer-Indian cultural religious beliefs. The Spanish introduced Christianity, forcibly demanding adherence to Catholicism. The Inquisition not only stamped out the Amer-Indian religions, and as in Spain prevented the entry of Protestantism and Judaism. As a result, Christianity became the predominant religion in Mexico. Over 90 percent of Mexicans identify as Christian. But this is misleading. Mexicans and Latin Americans in general are culturally Christian. But this do not transfer into religious observation, especially for men. Commonly we see women and children in church--not men. And we mostly see middle-aged and older women in church. Also the Church has found recruiting priests is a problem. While many Mexicans do not practice their religion. Many children, however, even in non-observant families do celebrate First Communion. A substantial majority of Mexicans, some 75 percent of Mexicans identify as Roman Catholic. This means the largest religious group is Roman Catholic. Thr role of the Church became a contentious issuw in Latin namerican Counties after indepencene (19th century). The Mexican Revoltion (1910-20) was the first of the great 20th cemntuy revolutiomsa. It did not gake on an anti-clerical bent. Since the Mexican Revolution , the percentage of Mexican Catholics has been declining. Data on this is imprecise. Also important in Mexico is the Christero War following the Revolution (1926-29). This was a cultural phenomenon in central and western Mexico not experienced in other Latin American countries. One source reports that the percent of Roman Catholics has plummeted from 99 percent (1910) to host over 75 percent (2020). Again this means culturally Catholic not actual observing Catholics. One factor is the increasing membership of other Christian denominations, especially Protestantism. Protestants are now believed to account for over 10 percent of the country' population. And with Protestants, these people are not just culturally Protestant, they tend to be actually observant Christians. Before World War II Protestantism was negligible--less than percent of the population. Many denominations are involved, but Evangelicals are especially important. Jehovah's Witnesses are also important and Mennonites are active with a connunity of about 100,000. Data often includes Mormons with the Protestants. Mormons are non-Catholic, but are not Protestant.
There are other non-Christian religions groups, but they make up a small part of the Mexican population, including Judaism and Islam. The Muslim population has increased in some Latin American countries during recent years, but has made few inroad in Mexico. We suspect the substantial population of heavily Catholocized indigenous and mestizo peoples is a factor. There are also some Mexicans who adhere to indigenous or folk religions. While the numbers who formally adhere to indigenous/folk religion is small. The numbers who are influenced and or engaged in cultural practices reflecting these religions is substantial. And of course here we are talking primarily about the continuing influence of the unorganized Amer-Indian religion suppressed by the Spanish.
Nearly 10 percent of the Mexican population identifies as non-religious> This includes actual atheists, agnostics, and those who simply do not adhere to any organize religious group. A complicvation is socialism. Marrxist doctrine is atheist. Marx and Lenin were decidely gostyile to religion. Socialist ideas are widely held in Mexico. The PRI took a anti-clerical tact. Many Mexicans hold socilaist ideas, but are culturally Catholic. This is true throughout Latin America and is part of the Libeation Theology movement.
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