Globalization, civil society and religion from a Latin American standpoint - Statistical Data Included

Sociology of Religion, Winter, 2001 by Catalina Romero

Two visions of religion will be contrasted. The first vision, based on colonial religious discourse, emphasizes suffering and death. Christ was born to die on the cross and the meaning of his life becomes significant in his death. The second vision emphasizes love and compassion -- a God of Life (Gutierrez 1989, 1991). God especially loves the poor and calls them to defend their rights and to live fully their human lives. He sends his son with a mission and his son finds death because of that mission. The difference between these two approaches can be interpreted as the difference between other worldly religion, where death frees one from the human condition, and inner worldly religion, where solidarity will free one from conditions that limit our human capabilities to develop.

The first question asked was: Which one of the following statements is
closer to your own way of thinking?

                                     (N)  (% Yes)

a. Christ was born to suffer and
   die on the cross, to save
   humanity from sin                 454   37.6
b. Christ was born to save humanity
   from sin, teaching that we are
   children of God and to share
   with others.                      751   62.4
A second question asked was: What is more important: to be a good
Christian, to obey all the religious norms [formal practice and ethics],
or to love your neighbor [solidarity and practice and a more complex
ethical judgment]?

                                     (N)  (%Yes)

a. To be a good Christian, do you
   have to observe the Commandments
   of the Church?                    519   43%
b. To be a good Christian, do you
   have to love your neighbors and
   live according to that?           689   57%

The responses in this national sample favor both solidarity, a concept which has informed Church teaching since Vatican II, and liberation theology, which has been transforming Catholic value orientation toward social action.

Religion, as an institution within the cultural sphere where people interact, produce meaning, and interpret reality, affords the opportunity for a variety of beliefs within the Catholic tradition. Therefore, religion should not be viewed as a monolithic doctrine imposed upon the consciousness of ignorant people and uncritically accepted, rather it is a complex assemblage of doctrine received within a particular historical context which is explored and categorized to aid in understanding the world.

GLOBALIZATION AND CIVIL SOCIETY

Social stratification in Latin America has shifted during the last few decades toward a more inclusive model. Social mobility and modern communications have changed the make up of class groupings. No longer can the elite class be categorized homogenously as white and European. The middle classes have grown and become more progressive with the inclusion of diverse groups. Peasants and rural dwellers have more opportunity for education and communication, making them far better informed during the last three decades than at any time previously. However, the majority of citizens are the poor, who have very limited access to global society, yet even they are forming new networks through migration to towns and cities.