Religious expressions and forms of belief in Latin America in the 21st century

Abstract

Latin America is a heterogeneous and complex area with a common geographical identity and a past marked by colonization, immigration, and the silencing of indigenous peoples. Beyond this common base, each country has its singularities, although several constants can be observed in the historical, political, and identity processes. One of the many riches of this diversity is the religious sphere, which has undergone a significant evolution over the last century, marked by the pluralization of religious practices and identities that had long been homogenized under Catholicism. At the same time, this period saw the emergence and consolidation of a Latin American university community with its national characteristics open to ongoing dialogue.This thematic issue aims to provide an overview – albeit inevitably partial – of current trends in social science research on religion in Latin America. Our initial thesis is that a new stage in the historical cycles relating to religion is now beginning in the region, implying developments in research on the subject. By focusing their research on changes in religion in one Latin American country (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay), the authors of this Special Issue are renewing the scientific literature devoted to this region of the world by developing new issues and examining classic themes in the sociology of religion from new perspectives. In this sense, this Special Issue is both an assessment of past research and a starting point for new studies based on the following questions: What new religious expressions and forms of belief are emerging in Latin America today? What do they tell us about religion in today’s world? How are they approached from a social science perspective? To provide the best possible answers to these questions, this introduction first outlines the historical models and religious cycles in Latin America and the processes of academic professionalization of the social sciences of religion. It then outlines the main lines of research in this disciplinary field. Finally, it presents the articles that make up this Special Issue to illustrate the new religious cycle and the new stage of the social sciences of religion in Latin America.