Religion in Latin America

lI. Introduction

lII. Religion in Brazil

lIII. Religion and Politics in Latin America

lIV. Conclusions

I. Introduction

lA.  Brazil: a center of religious innovation and an example of broader processes of religious change in Latin America

II. Religion in Brazil

lA. Historically a _________________________

l1. Portuguese brought missionaries and the Catholic ______________________ to Brazil

l2. Catholic hierarchy tied to _____________________________________________________ and supported maintenance of land and class based inequalities

l3. many elements of African religions and indigenous religions incorporated into Catholic practice as “____________________________________”

l4. chronic shortage of ____________ left Catholics with little official control over beliefs and practices

lB. Liberation Theology in Catholicism, 1960s-1980s

l1. goal of providing a “______________________________________________”, rather than the hierarchy’s traditional support for the elite and the government

l2. implemented through ecclesiastical base communities (CEBs) that sought to improve the quality of life ______________________

l3. opposed by the ___________________________________ in most instances

lB.4. Liberation Theology and CEBs declined __________________________ because of:

la. _________________________ and opening of politics to new parties and groups

lb. collapse of _______________________ in the Second World

lc. _____________________________________

ld. replacement of ____________________________ with conservatives by the pope

lC. Spiritist Religions

l1. ______________: a variety of religious practices that share belief in supernatural spirits who communicate with humans through the temporary possession of devotees

la. Spiritism based in large part on African religions brought by slaves but ________________

lb.  had to survive in ______________

lc. has incorporated ___________________________________

lC.2. _____________________: originally a European philosophy and mystical religion of the educated middle classes centered on miraculous cures through spiritual healing and on moral instruction from “evolved” spirits of philosophers and political leaders

la. rituals carefully controlled by _____________________________

lb. rejects “ignorant” ____________________________________ spirits as lacking culture and uncouth

lC.3. ________________: urban twentieth century religion centered on the Brazilian spirits excluded by Kardecism; synthesizes Kardecism’s European roots with African spiritism for the educated white middle class

la. focus on _______________________________ for the faithful via advice dispensed by spirits, support network of followers, and charity by religious leaders

l4. _____________________: religion based on African religious traditions as brought to Brazilian plantations, but closer to African traditions than Umbanda

la. _______________________, more often rural, and more likely to be black than those of umbanda

lD. Protestantism, and especially ________________________, the fastest growing religions in Brazil

l1. popular among ___________________ because they provide a new family for isolated urban residents and offer power via efforts to provide new resources

l2. may have ____________________ followers, and more Protestant preachers than Catholic priests in Brazil today

III. Religion and Politics in Latin America

lA. Long tradition of _________________________ between the Catholic church hierarchy and elites

lB. Most (but not all) Protestant groups that have grown rapidly over the last four decades are _______________________________________, focusing on spiritual and practical needs

lC. Liberation Theology in Catholicism created a new religious and political movement that challenged _______________________________

l1. despite _______________________________________ to end support for Liberation Theology, it remains an important element in religious and political life at the local level

lD. Video: “Romero” in El Salvador as an example of the relationships between religion, politics and inequalities in Latin America

l1. How do governments try to control their citizens?

 

 

l2. What roles did Liberation Theology play in El Salvador?

 

 

 

l3. What was the relationship between the church hierarchy and the political and economic elites in El Salvador?

 

 

 

lD.4. What role did paramilitary death squads play?

 

 

 

l5. What role did the U.S. play in the conflict in El Salvador?

 

 

 

l6. How do the elites justify their actions?

 

 

 

l7. despite a series of elections and efforts to end violence over the last 25 years, political violence and severe inequalities ________________________________________

IV. Conclusions

lA. Catholicism has been the largest religion in Latin America since the ______________________

lB. The __________________________ has played both positive roles (trying to protect indigenous peoples after the conquest, trying to help the poor as part of Liberation Theology) and negative roles (justifying conquest to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity, alliances with elites to maintain inequalities) in Latin American societies

lC. _________________________________ are growing rapidly in the region, including Protestant churches and spiritist religions