Religion in Mexico
Encyclopedia
Mexico
has no official religion
, and the Constitution of 1917 imposed limitations on the church and sometimes codified state intrusion into church matters. The government doesn't provide financial contributions to the church, nor does the church participate in public education. However, Christmas
is a national holiday and every year during Easter
and Christmas all schools in Mexico, public and private, send their students on vacation.
In 1992, Mexico lifted almost all restrictions on the religions, including granting all religious groups legal status, conceding them limited property, and lifting restrictions on the number of priests in the country. Until recently, priests did not have the right to vote, and even now they cannot be elected to public office.
Roman Catholic
s are 82.7% of the total population. In absolute terms, Mexico has the world's second largest number of Catholics after Brazil
.
While most indigenous
Mexicans are at least nominally Catholic, some combine or syncretize
Catholic practices with native traditions. In the Yucatán Peninsula
, some Mayan people still practice the traditional beliefs of their ancestors, without being syncretized with Christianity; the same happens with the Wixarika people of Jalisco
and Nayarit
.
, of whom Pentecostals
and Charismatics
(called Neo-Pentecostals in the census), are the largest group. The Anglican Communion
is represented by the Anglican Church of Mexico
.
(488,946 people).
. According to the Jehovah's Witness report of 2010 there are 710,454 active members (members who actively preach), but 2.05 million people attend the Jehovah's Witnesses' annual Memorial of Christ's death (also known as The Lord's Supper.)
moved to Mexico. The LDS Church claims over a million members in Mexico. June 29, 1993, the Mexican government formally registered the LDS Church. This allowed the church to own property in Mexico. As of year-end 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 1,082,427 members, 207 stakes, 1,434 wards, 495 branches, and 6 temples
in Mexico
. 2000 Census figures however report only 205,229 Latter-Day Saints.
is a Charismatic Christian denomination
with international headquarters in Guadalajara
, Jalisco
, Mexico
. Its flagship church in Guadalajara is said to be the largest non-Catholic house of worship in Latin America
.
s in the world - Casa Tibet México - is located in Mexico City. It is used by the Dalai Lama
and other leaders of Tibetan Buddhism
to preserve and share Tibetan culture and spirituality. Alejandro Jodorowsky
has stated that he discovered Zen Buddhism in the 1960s while in Mexico. There are also two institutions from Theravada Buddhism tradition, the Theravada Buddhist Monastery http://www.cmbt.org and the Vipassana House of Meditation.http://www.vipassana.org.mx
On the other hand we can find at least 30 Buddhist groups in Mexico.http://www.angelfire.com/alt/ello/link.htm
is mainly practiced by members of the Arab
, Turkish, and other expatriate communities, though there is a very small number of the indigenous population in Chiapas
that practices Islam.
in Mexico dates back to 1521, when Hernán Cortéz conquered the Aztecs, accompanied by several Conversos. According to the last national census by the INEGI, there are now more than 45,000 Mexican Jews, the near totality of which (around 95%) live in the Greater Mexico City area.
and irreligion in Mexico is hard to measure due to the fact that many atheists are officially counted as Catholic, almost three million people in the 2000 National Census reported having no religion. Recent surveys have shown that only around 3% of Catholics attend church daily and, according to INEGI, the number of atheists grows annually by 5.2%, while the number of Catholics grows by 1.7%.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
has no official religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, and the Constitution of 1917 imposed limitations on the church and sometimes codified state intrusion into church matters. The government doesn't provide financial contributions to the church, nor does the church participate in public education. However, Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
is a national holiday and every year during Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
and Christmas all schools in Mexico, public and private, send their students on vacation.
In 1992, Mexico lifted almost all restrictions on the religions, including granting all religious groups legal status, conceding them limited property, and lifting restrictions on the number of priests in the country. Until recently, priests did not have the right to vote, and even now they cannot be elected to public office.
Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
s are 82.7% of the total population. In absolute terms, Mexico has the world's second largest number of Catholics after Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
While most indigenous
Indigenous peoples of Mexico
Mexico, in the second article of its Constitution, is defined as a "pluricultural" nation in recognition of the diverse ethnic groups that constitute it, and in which the indigenous peoples are the original foundation...
Mexicans are at least nominally Catholic, some combine or syncretize
Syncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
Catholic practices with native traditions. In the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, some Mayan people still practice the traditional beliefs of their ancestors, without being syncretized with Christianity; the same happens with the Wixarika people of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
and Nayarit
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
.
Protestantism
About 9% of the population (6,160,000 people over the age of 5, according to the 2000 census, including Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, and Mormons) are ProtestantProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, of whom Pentecostals
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
and Charismatics
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
(called Neo-Pentecostals in the census), are the largest group. The Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
is represented by the Anglican Church of Mexico
Anglican Church of Mexico
The Anglican Church of Mexico is the Anglican province in Mexico, and includes 5 dioceses. The primate is the Presiding Bishop and Bishop of Mexico, The Most Revd...
.
Seventh-day Adventist
There are also a sizeable number of Seventh-day AdventistsSeventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
(488,946 people).
Jehovah's Witnesses
The 2000 national census counted more than one million Jehovah's WitnessesJehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
. According to the Jehovah's Witness report of 2010 there are 710,454 active members (members who actively preach), but 2.05 million people attend the Jehovah's Witnesses' annual Memorial of Christ's death (also known as The Lord's Supper.)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The first LDS missionaries in Mexico arrived in 1875 (although the original Mormons came to Mexico in the 1840s in Utah, when it was still a Mexican territory). In 1885, 400 Mormon colonistsMormon Colonies in Mexico
The Mormon colonies in Mexico are settlements located near the Sierra Madre mountains in northern Mexico which were established by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beginning in 1885. Many of the original colonists came to Mexico due to federal attempts to curb and...
moved to Mexico. The LDS Church claims over a million members in Mexico. June 29, 1993, the Mexican government formally registered the LDS Church. This allowed the church to own property in Mexico. As of year-end 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 1,082,427 members, 207 stakes, 1,434 wards, 495 branches, and 6 temples
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. 2000 Census figures however report only 205,229 Latter-Day Saints.
La Luz del Mundo
La Luz del MundoLa Luz del Mundo
La Luz del Mundo is a Christian denomination with international headquarters in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The church is based on a Christian doctrine centered around two charismatic leaders, Eusebio Joaquin Gonzalez, known as "Aaron the Apostle" to his followers, and since 1964, his son Samuel...
is a Charismatic Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
with international headquarters in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Its flagship church in Guadalajara is said to be the largest non-Catholic house of worship in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
Buddhism
Buddhism in Mexico possesses demographic presence in the country. Approximately 108,701 Buddhists are counted in Mexico. Also one of six Tibet HouseTibet House
Tibet House US was founded in 1987 by Columbia University professor Robert Thurman, actor Richard Gere and modern composer Philip Glass at the behest of the 14th H.H. Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. It was initially organized in New York City, USA, and the Tibet House US is still based there...
s in the world - Casa Tibet México - is located in Mexico City. It is used by the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
and other leaders of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
to preserve and share Tibetan culture and spirituality. Alejandro Jodorowsky
Alejandro Jodorowsky
Alejandro Jodorowsky Prullansky, known as Alejandro Jodorowsky, is a Chilean filmmaker, playwright, actor, author, comic book writer and spiritual guru...
has stated that he discovered Zen Buddhism in the 1960s while in Mexico. There are also two institutions from Theravada Buddhism tradition, the Theravada Buddhist Monastery http://www.cmbt.org and the Vipassana House of Meditation.http://www.vipassana.org.mx
On the other hand we can find at least 30 Buddhist groups in Mexico.http://www.angelfire.com/alt/ello/link.htm
Islam
IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is mainly practiced by members of the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
, Turkish, and other expatriate communities, though there is a very small number of the indigenous population in Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
that practices Islam.
Judaism
The presence of JewsJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
in Mexico dates back to 1521, when Hernán Cortéz conquered the Aztecs, accompanied by several Conversos. According to the last national census by the INEGI, there are now more than 45,000 Mexican Jews, the near totality of which (around 95%) live in the Greater Mexico City area.
Nonreligious
Although the demographics of atheismDemographics of atheism
The demographics of atheism are difficult to quantify. Different people interpret "atheist" and related terms differently, and it can be hard to draw boundaries between atheism, non-religious beliefs, and non-theistic religious and spiritual beliefs...
and irreligion in Mexico is hard to measure due to the fact that many atheists are officially counted as Catholic, almost three million people in the 2000 National Census reported having no religion. Recent surveys have shown that only around 3% of Catholics attend church daily and, according to INEGI, the number of atheists grows annually by 5.2%, while the number of Catholics grows by 1.7%.
Further reading
- Dow, James W. "The Expansion of Protestantism in Mexico: An Anthropological View." Anthropological QuarterlyAnthropological QuarterlyAnthropological Quarterly is a widely read peer-reviewed journal covering topics in social and cultural anthropology.Anthropological Quarterly was founded in 1921 by The Catholic University of America and was published by The Catholic University of America Press from 1921 to 1953 under the name...
, Vol. 78, No. 4 (Autumn, 2005), pp. 827-851