1. Religious Syncretism
In Latin America

2. Catholicism in Latin America
40% of the world’s Catholic population lives in Latin America
Pope Francis from Argentina is the first Latin American Pope
Although Catholicism is still the dominant religion, it’s numbers are down from 90% (1960) to 70% today.
“Southern cone” countries are the least religious, Guatemala and neighboring countries are the most religious and conservative

3. Inquisition in the Americas 1750-1820

4. Syncretism definition:
The blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system.

5. Chichicastenango

6. Chichicastenango

7. Inside of Santo Tomas Church in Chichicastenango

8. Lake Atitlan

9. Maximon

10. Maximon

11. Sacrifice table at Lake Titicaca on the Bolivian altiplano

12. Jesus statue at La Cumbre Pass outside of La Paz, Bolivia

13. Huaca- A Quechua word (language of the Incas), it means an object or place that is sacred.

14. Temple of the Sun, Cusco

15. Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico

16. Santeria in Cuba

17. Santeria
Santeria was a religion formed by slaves in Cuba that combined traditional west African beliefs with Catholicism. They incorporated the traditional worship of orichas (their traditional gods/spirits) with Catholic saints.

18. Santeria includes trances and dancing as well as animal sacrifice and communing with the dead.

19. We have our own syncretism