Many Latin American Catholics are choosing other faiths

[Melech 9,900]

 

 

A part of the world where 90 percent of the population once belonged to the Roman Catholic Church has undergone a dramatic shift in religious affiliation in recent years, the Pew Research Center reported November 13.

The study of Latin America's religious makeup found Catholic ranks have "declined substantially" in recent years as Protestant and other faiths have scooped up members, many of whom are seeking, "a more personal experience with God," the Pew report said.

R. Andrew Chesnut, the Bishop Walter Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and a lead academic on the Pew study, said Latin America has become "a free market of faith" where religious consumers have been drawn to other options of worship.

"Catholics are just learning to compete because they have had a monopoly (in the region) for four centuries," he said. "Latin American Christianity is thoroughly Pentecostalized, except for the Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists and the Jehovah's Witnesses."

The shift comes as Catholic leaders last year elected the first Latin American as pope, then-Cardinal Jose Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. The newly-minted Pope Francis has wowed Catholics and others with his humility and plain style, but it is uncertain whether just having a new leader will bring substantial numbers of ex-Catholics back to the fold.

Mirroring the U.S.

In 1970, Pew reported, 90 percent of Latin American adults identified as Roman Catholic. Today, that number has dropped to 69 percent, 15 points lower than the number of adults in the region who say they were raised in the Catholic faith.

Nearly two in 10 (19 percent) of the departed Catholics now identify as Protestants, Pew reported, while 8 percent of adults in Latin America say they are unaffiliated with any faith, twice as many who say they were raised without a connection to a religious organization.

Chesnut said Catholics in Latin America rapidly approved of a "charismatic" movement within their ranks, perhaps decreasing some of the outflow. Since its arrival in the early 1970s, charismatic Catholicism "has become the number one movement" in the church, he said. "Without it, the decline would be even more precipitous."

He credited Pentecostalism with providing "faith healing, direct contact with the Holy Spirit, and preaching that deals with (worshippers') direct needs."

Pew's survey found that while "people who are currently Catholic overwhelmingly view Francis favorably," most former Catholics "are more skeptical" about the pope, save for Argentinians and Uruguayans. Pew asserted "it is too soon to know whether Francis can stop or reverse the church’s losses in the region," a conclusion with which Chesnut agreed.

The religious affiliation trends in Latin America mirror those of Hispanics in the United States, as Pew reported earlier this year. Domestically, 55 percent of Hispanics identify as Roman Catholic, down from 67 percent in 2010. Close to 25 percent of U.S. Hispanics are former Catholics, Pew reported.

In both cases  the U.S. and Latin America  Hispanics are often moving from Catholicism to Protestant faiths. "Most Protestants in Latin America identify with Pentecostalism," Pew researchers said, putting the number at "a median of 65 percent," while noting 29 percent of Hispanics in this country self-identify as Pentecostal.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865615651/Seeking-personal-faith-many-Latin-American-Catholics-are-choosing-other-faiths.html

 

 

[amenART 429]

whatever makes them feel most fulfilled is good I guess

[garnite 8]

shows the pointless, frivolous nature of faith. you can pick and choose how the universe functions and what constitutes reality/history based on your own personal comforts and taste. better than being forced/raised into it, but highlights something very important about religion. it's philosophical fast food.

[monsterdreams 1,529]

So now the Vatican has to worry about Latin America as well as the gays? However will they cope

[Batwings 12,957]

The Good Sister Jude will not be pleased.

 

[Luc 4,776]

'... while 8 percent of adults in Latin America say they are unaffiliated with any faith, twice as many who say they were raised without a connection to a religious organization.'

 

 

It's something Latin America is already quite liberal though, especially for how religious they are. Religion doesn't have that much impact on their governments, fortunately.

[Memo 176]

well I can't say I'm surprised tbh

Latin America is already quite liberal though

is it :usrs:

[Luc 4,776]

well I can't say I'm surprised tbh

is it

Yes, considering it's so religious especially Uruguay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_same-s-x_marriage

[Memo 176]

Yes, considering it's so religious especially Uruguay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_same-s-x_marriage

That's surprising considering that most people aren't as tolerant as you'd think they'd be

did that sentence make any sense

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

The impact of the new pope practically changing the entire Bible :awkney:

[Luc 4,776]

That's surprising considering that most people aren't as tolerant as you'd think they'd be

did that sentence make any sense

Well, that will come as atheism becomes more popular everywhere around the world. 90% of Mexico right now is Christian, so it's kinda expected to be homophobic (eventhough according to a survey about 60% of Mexicans support gay marriage?). The number of atheists grows 5,2% annually in Mexico though, which is great. If it goes on like this, they'll be ~30% atheist (comparable to countries like the Netherlands and Germany) by 2050

[Memo 176]

Well, that will come as atheism becomes more popular everywhere around the world. 90% of Mexico right now is Christian, so it's kinda expected to be homophobic (eventhough according to a survey about 60% of Mexicans support gay marriage?). The number of atheists grows 5,2% annually in Mexico though, which is great. If it goes on like this, they'll be ~30% atheist (comparable to countries like the Netherlands and Germany) by 2050

slay i guess :mess: