Credits
Contributors Alberto Hernández Hernández, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El Colef) Cristina Gutiérrez Zúñiga, El Colegio de Jalisco (Coljal) Renée de la Torre Castellanos, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social (Ciesas-Occidente)
Red de Investigadores del Fenómeno Religioso en México (RIFREM) www.rifrem.mx
Sample design and application Demoskópica México
Graphic design and Illustration Hijos del Nopal
Financing Convocatoria Redes Temáticas Conacyt, 2016 Introduction
The present materials document outcomes from the RIFREM 2016: Religious Beliefs and Practices in Mexico National Survey, based on a 3000-per- son, randomly selected sample designed to be representative of the general population.
The objective is to gain an understanding of the religious beliefs and practices of the Mexican people, including in different regions and with regard to major religions.
Outcomes are presented in five sections: “Chang- ing Religion,” “Identity and Religious Commit- ment,” “Religious Practices,” “Key Beliefs” and “Perceptions on Religion and the Public Sphere.”
This survey constitutes a primary resource for undertaking a deeper analysis of this important social issue.
3 What does the survey shed light on?
It describes religious belief- and prac- tices-modes that characterize the people of Mexico.
It compares behaviors and character- istics that allow for an understanding of Mexico’s major religious groups.
It demonstrates religiosity profile characteristics in different national regions.
4 It captures reconfigurations between religious affiliations to a given church and individual identification with be- liefs, practices and values.
It contributes to an understanding of how religion is changing in Mexico, describing the growth of certain reli- gions and opinions with regard to va- lues of tolerance and pluralism.
5 Religious Change of the regions and their subregions of Mexico
Pacific Ocean
Source: Produced by Alberto Hernández and Carlos V. Ruelas, based on project data “Perfiles y tendencias del cambio religioso en México 1950-2000 (Base ne)”, from the cgp y v, inegi 1950-2000. 6 Religious Change of the regions and their subregions of Mexico
Religious Change
High
Emerging
Slow/moderate
Regions Northwest Mexico North, Northeast and Gulf Region Central Mexico Western and North Central Mexico Pacific South and Southeast Mexico
Mexico Gulf
7 Methodological Description
Objective Establish information about nationwide as well as re- gional beliefs and religious practices to allow for a com- parative analysis within rural and urban populations as well as major religious affiliations in Mexico, in accor- dance with census information.
POPULATION The Mexican population over eighteen years of age, belonging to four religious affiliations: Roman Catho- lic, Evangelical (Protestant and Pentecostal), Biblical/ Paraprotestant (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists and Mormons) and no religious affiliation. Jewish and Islamic religions, etc., were omitted from the total Mexican population sample.
SAMPLE 155 municipal jurisdictions in 32 states (or state-like districts; i.e.,100% of federal jurisdictions sampled).
SAMPLING POINTS AGEBs: 253 as a sample of 59,193. Rural jurisdictions: 47 as a sample of 187,722.
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE Random stratified sub-sample and proportional selection by size.
SURVEY GATHERING TECHNIQUE In-person home visits guaranteeing interviewee anonymity.
8 SURVEY PERIOD 29 October to 30 November 2016.
DESIGNED SAMPLE SIZE 3 000 cases.
CONFIDENCE LEVEL 95%
MARGIN OF STATISTICAL ERROR Evangelicals 8% Unaffiliated ±2.5% 5%
Biblical 2% Representative samples
Catholics • National 85% • In five regions: NORTHWEST Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Sonora NORTH, NORTHEAST AND THE GULF REGION Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and Veracruz CENTRAL MEXICO Mexico City, Hidalgo, Mexico State, Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala CENTER WEST AND CENTER NORTH Aguascalientes, Colima, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas PACIFIC SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán • Rural/urban condition • Four religious affiliation groups Catholics, Protestants and Evangelicals, other Biblical/Para- protestant and those unaffiliated).
9 Religious affiliation
Distribution of the “Non-Catholic” Religious preferences, mexico 20101
15.7% 4.2% 9.2% 1%
Catholics 82.7%
27.1% 0.5% 0.5% 8% 1.6% 3.4% 28.8%
Religious preference Absolute %
Catholics 92 924 489 82.7
Historical protestants 820 744 0.7
Pentecostal and neopentecostal 1 782 021 1.6
La Luz del Mundo 188 326 0.2
Other evangelicals 5 595 116 5.0
Seventh Day Adventists 661 878 0.6
Mormons 314 932 0.3
Jehovah’s Witnesses 1 561 086 1.4
Judaic 67 476 0.1
Other religions 105 415 0.1
Unaffiliated 5 262 546 4.7
Non specified 3 052 509 2.7
Source: XII Censo de Población y Vivienda 2010, INEGI, http://www.inegi.org.mx 10 Major census-based religious affiliation categories
11
AGGREGATE NATIONAL RESULTS
II I Identity and religious Changing religion commitment
IV III Key beliefs Religious practices
V Perceptions on religion and the public sphere To what religions do they belong? Why did they change religions? How many members of their family have adopted another religion? I Changing religion Do you belong to a religion? Yes Representative data from national total 95.1%
No 4.9%
Comparative results by region
No No No Sí 8% 6.1% 3.7%
Sí Sí Sí 92% 93.9% 96.3%
North, Northeast Northwest Central Mexico and the Gulf Region No No 1.9% 8.1%
Sí Sí 98.1% 91.9%
Center West and Pacific South Center North and Southeast
If you do not belong to a religion, indicate why Representative data from national total
4.3% 14.1% 10.5% 14.7% 8.5%
15.5%
9.3% 7.8%
1.8% 8.2% 5.3%
16 Comparative results by region
3.6% 6.5% 8.2% 20.9% 8.1% 14.3% 7.3% 17.6% 3.8% 7.8% 10.4% 5.5% 18.1% 6.7% 8.9% 4.3% 0.9% 14% 22.4% 8.1% 2.7%
North, Northeast Northwest and the Gulf Region
10.7% 12.2% 11.7% 22.4% 3.4% 12.7% 20.4% 8.8% 19% 1.7% 6.1% 11.2% 6.8% 4.4% 18.7% 6.1% 7.8% 5.4% 6.1% 4.4%
Center West and Central Mexico Center North
2.2% 11.6%
8.1% 16.8% 10.5% 6.7% 7.7% 16.3% 7.8%
10.1% 2.2%
Pacific South and Southeast
All religions are false I’m a free-thinker I’m atheist I’m agnostic That’s the way my family raised me I follow “traditions/customs” I only study the Bible I do not believe in any religious authority and I hold my own beliefs I’m looking for a religion that works for me I’m spiritual but not religious Other (please specify)
17 Have you converted from or left No a religion? 89.6% Representative data from national total
Yes 10.4%
What was your previous religion?
0.4%
0.4% 0.7% 0.4% 0.3% 0.8% 0.4% 0.2%
1.0% 0.6% 0.1%
1.1% 0.6% 0.1% 0.1% 1.2% 0.7% 0.1%
1.7% 0.8%
1.7%
2.2% 2.8% 3.4% 9.9% 11.2% 57.1% 18 Religion
Catholic Methodists Jehovah’s Witnesses Christian Friendship Unspecified Christian The Church of God Unspecified Evangelical The Church of Apostolic Faith The Church of Jesus Christ of in Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) Church of the Universal Kingdom The Church of the Living God, of God Column and Support of the Truth, Presbyterian Light of the World The Apostolic Roman Catholic Pentecostal Church 7th-Day Adventists The Independent Pentecost No professed religion Brotherhood Church of Christ The Spiritual Christian Church The Christian Evangelical The Church of God in Mexico Pentecostal Church Center of Faith, Hope and Love of Baptist the Revival Missionary Crusade Assembly of God Traditionalist Christian House of Prayer Other
Comparative results by region
Yes Yes Yes 10.6% 13.1% 12.3%
No No No 89.4% 86.9% 87.7%
North, Northeast Northwest and the Gulf Region Central Mexico
Yes Yes 4.5% 11.8%
No No 95.5% 88.2%
Center West and Pacific South Center North and Southeast
Comparative by religion
Yes Yes 4.8% 40.2%
No No 95.2% 59.8%
Catholics Paraprotestants
Yes Yes 38.5% 50.2%
No No 61.5% 49.8%
Evangelicals Unaffiliated 19 What was the main reason you converted to a new religion/abandoned religion? Representative data from national total
2.5% 8.9% 17.0%
13.2% 9.3%
8.4%
7.2% 10.5% 0.4% 1.3% 16.8% 4.7%
Not satisfied with your previous religion
Found a meaning to life in your current religion
Became convinced that this is the true religion
Experienced a crisis (emotional, economic, a divorce) and found God
Your current religion interprets the Bible more accurately
Your current religion provides economic assistance and solidarity
Your new religion helped you recover from addiction
Your family converted
No religion satisfies you
You decided to seek the truth on your own
You are put off by the church’s rules and dogmas
Another reason, why? 20 Comparative results by region
14% 8.8% 24.2% 9.1% 0.7% 2.2%
12.5% 5.9% 13.9% 12.2%
12.2% 13.6% 7.3% 6.8% 4.6% 5.3% 6.8% 4.2% 0.3% 0.2% 2.5% 28.8% 2.7% 1.3%
North, Northeast Northwest and the Gulf Region
5.2% 23.8% 22.9% 17.5%
3.4% 5.1% 8.7% 16.5% 9% 12.1% 10.8% 6.6% 11.8% 5.6% 2.7% 10.8%
1.6% 16.8% 0.5% 8.6%
Center West and Central Mexico Center North
7.2% 15.8%
3.2% 13.5%
18.7% 13.2%
10.6% 3.8%
8.7% 2.9%
2% 0.4%
Pacific South and Southeast
21 Comparative by religion
5.9%
8.2% 15.2% 6.9% 15.8%
2.2% 1.2% 6.1% 10.4% 3.6% 8.4% 1.1% 20.4% 1.8% 5.1% 2.5% 9.4% 11% 2.5% 30.9% 23.9% 7.6%
Catholics Paraprotestants
8.7%
5.7% 19.1% 11.9%
0.4% 6.8% 18.5% 10.7%
1.3% 19.2% 29.5% 33.3% 8.9%
7% 18.9%
Evangelicals Unaffiliated
Not satisfied with your previous religion
Found a meaning to life in your current religion
Became convinced that this is the true religion
Experienced a crisis (emotional, economic, a divorce) and found God
Your current religion interprets the Bible more accurately
Your current religion provides economic assistance and solidarity
Your new religion helped you recover from addiction
Your family converted
No religion satisfies you
You decided to seek the truth on your own
You are put off by the church’s rules and dogmas
Another reason, why? 22 Why do you think people convert to a new religion? Representative data from national total
21.7% 3.6% 17.1% 9.2%
18.9% 12.1% 17.3%
They’re disappointed with their church
They aren’t satisfied with their church
They’ve been brainwashed
The new church offered them economic incentives
They don’t know their own religion
Personal decision
Another reason, why?
23 Comparative results by region
4.3% 22.1% 3.6% 14.9%
28.1% 8% 22.9% 12.8% 11.6% 12.6%
10.5% 15.6% 6.8% 26.1%
North, Northeast Northwest and the Gulf Region
1.4% 20% 7.1% 15.8%
16.6% 17.5% 8.8% 8.5% 12.5% 23.9% 18.7%
12.9% 16.8% 19.7%
Center West and Central Mexico Center North
2.7% 13.6%
29% 11%
14.8%
21.1% 7.8%
Pacific South and Southeast
24 Comparative by religion
3.6% 16% 4.3% 24.4%
19.5% 15.6% 8.5% 30.6% 19.5% 3.9%
19.4% 13.5% 16.9% 4.4%
Catholics Paraprotestants
3.7% 3.3% 22.9%
23.2%
36.8% 13.6% 33.6% 12.5%
1.9% 10.3%
18.4% 2.3% 9.9% 7.5%
Evangelicals Unaffiliated
They’re disappointed with their church
They aren’t satisfied with their church
They’ve been brainwashed
The new church offered them economic incentives
They don’t know their own religion
Personal decision
Another reason, why?
25 Does everyone in your immediate family belong to the same religion? Representative data from national total
Yes 78.5%
No 21.5%
Comparative results by region
No No No 28.6% 30% 17.9%
Sí Sí Sí 71.4% 70% 82.1%
No No 11.8% 27.4%
Sí Sí 88.2% 72.6%
Northwest
North, Northeast and the Gulf Region
Central Mexico
Center West and Center North
Pacific South and Southeast
26 Comparative by religion
No No 16.6% 35.4%
Sí Sí 83.4% 64.6%
No No 39.9% 69.8%
Sí Sí 60.1% 30.2%
Catholics
Paraprotestants
Evangelicals
Unaffiliated
27 How do they identify as believers and what degree of commitment do they hold to their churches II Identity and religious commitment How do you identify yourself in religious terms? Representative data from national total
0.4% 1.1% 0.7% 0.5%
17.9% 2% 2%
5.3% 28.3% 41.8%
Catholic out of tradition
Catholic out of conviction
Practicing believer
Believer in your own way
Do not practice religion
Spiritual without belonging
Agnostic
Indifferent
Atheist
Other identification (please specify)
30 Comparative results by region
2.3% 0.7% 0.9% 0.8% 0.4% 0.5% 2.8% 1.5% 1.1% 2% 2.4%
18.3% 14% 41.9%
50% 5% 5.8% 32.5%
17.1%
North, Northeast Northwest and the Gulf Region
1.4% 0.6% 0.1% 0.5% 0.3% 2.6% 0.8% 0.5% 0.7% 0.2% 0.3% 2.1% 21.4%
16.3%
6.3% 41.2% 4% 42.2%
29%
29.4%
Center West and Central Mexico Center North
1.9% 0.8% 3.5% 0.8% 2.9%
20.9%
38.1%
5.3%
25.8%
Pacific South and Southeast
31 Comparative by religion
0.2% 1.1% 1.8% 0.5% 0.1% 1.4% 0.9% 0.3% 0.1% 17.8% 8.3% 10.7% 0.2%
4.8% 47.3% 16.1%
61.5%
26.9%
Catholics Paraprotestants
0.3% 2.5% 1.3% 0. 6% 12.5% 5.8% 5% 2.2% 22.5% 11.9% 0.3% 17.3% 20.5%
10.5% 49.8% 3.1% 15.5%
18.4%
Evangelicals Unaffiliated
Catholic out of tradition
Catholic out of conviction
Practicing believer
Believer in your own way
Do not practice religion
Spiritual without belonging
Agnostic
Indifferent
Atheist
Other identification (please specify)
32 Were you baptized/initiated and/or married in the church? Representative data from national total
Baptized/ Married in Other religious initiated the church rites 94.6% 52.7% 53%
Comparative results by region Percentage who responded YES
40.3% 41.9% 51.7% 40.4% 48.3% 56.3% 93.3% 94% 95.6%
North, Northeast Northwest Central Mexico and the Gulf Region
81.3% 24.9% 62.1% 44.4% 98.2% 88.8%
Center West and Pacific South Center North and Southeast
Baptized/initiated Married in the church Other religious rites
33 Comparative by religion Percentage who responded YES
59% 13.4% 14.3% 56.8% 46.1% 36% 97.8% 87.3% 83.1%
Catholics Paraprotestants Evangelicals
15.9% Baptized/initiated 9.8% 58.7% Married in the church Other religious rites
Unaffiliated
How often do you currently attend religious services (i.e., mass or prayer sessions)? Representative data from national total
10.8% 6.3%
25.5% 44.3%
13.1%
Every day or almost every day
Every week
Every month
Occasionally (important celebrations)
Never
34 Comparative results by region
8.7% 9.6% 9.1% 11.6% 5.2% 7.5%
22.8% 26.3% 28.3% 32.9% 42.1%
14.5% 11.6% 49.4%
20.5%
North, Northeast Northwest Central Mexico and the Gulf Region
4.2% 8.4% 8.3%
19.9% 23.4% 49.4% 27.5%
14.6% 36.2%
8.1%
Center West and Pacific South Center North and Southeast
Comparative by religion
1.8% 3.4% 6.5% 7.2% 4.2% 27.5% 44.7%
14.8% 47.8% 42%
Catholics Paraprotestants
3.4%
10% 1.5% 1.5% 1.7%
3.4% 18.4%
31.6% 53.5% 75%
Evangelicals Unaffiliated
35 What non-church-based religious practices do Mexicans undertake, and how frequently? III Religious practices Which of the following activities do you practice? Representative data from national total
1.2% 1% 0.9% 47.9% 87% 47% 50.9% 12% 52.1%
Pilgrimages to Cleansings with Bible reading sanctuaries spiritual healers and study (yerberos, curanderos, brujos, santeros, espiritistas, shamans)
0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 92.6% 93.4% 66.1% 6.6% 5.8% 33.1%
Energy rituals during Indigenous rituals, Gifts of the Holy Spirit the equinox at sacred dances or temascal sites like pyramids or baths (sweat lodges) natural sanctuaries
0.7% 0.7% 0.8% 93.6% 86% 86.3% 5.7% 13.3% 12.9%
Yoga, meditation and Internet prayer chains Contact with a guardian other Eastern spiritual on cell phones or angel practices mobile devices
Yes No Didn’t respond
38 Comparative results by region Percentage who responded YES
45.1% 17.6% 62.8% 0.9% 51.4% 5.3% 49.5% 47% 52.1% 14.6% 52% 52.1% 55.6% 12% 49.8% 53.1% 11% 49.9%
Pilgrimages to Cleansings with Bible reading sanctuaries spiritual healers and study (yerberos, curanderos, brujos, santeros, espiritistas, shamans)
4.9% 7.9% 33.9% 0.8% 3.7% 2.7% 31.8% 66.1% 12% 7.4% 31.8% 33.1% 3.6% 5.5% 34.5% 6.3% 5.5% 40%
Energy rituals during Indigenous rituals, Gifts of the Holy Spirit the equinox at sacred dances or temascal sites like pyramids or baths (sweat lodges) natural sanctuaries
3.7% 13.4% 12.7% 0.8% 4.9% 6.6% 13.4% 86.3% 7.8% 15.4% 12.6% 12.9% 3.7% 16% 9.9% 9.3% 19.1% 21.8%
Yoga, meditation and Internet prayer chains Contact with a guardian other Eastern spiritual on cell phones or angel practices mobile devices
Northwest Central Mexico
North, Northeast and Center West and Center North
the Gulf Region Pacific South and Southeast 39 Comparative by religion Percentage who responded YES
8.4% 13.4% 26.3%
9% 5.5% 88.4%
8.5% 2.7% 87.6%
59% 12.9% 49.9%
Pilgrimages to Cleansings with Bible reading sanctuaries spiritual healers and study (yerberos, curanderos, brujos, santeros, espiritistas, shamans)
9.2% 6% 7.6%
4.7% 5.5% 45.7%
2.1% 3% 42.6%
6.8% 5.9% 33.5%
Energy rituals during Indigenous rituals, Gifts of the Holy Spirit the equinox at sacred dances or temascal sites like pyramids or baths (sweat lodges) natural sanctuaries
8% 5.8% 6.3%
4.8% 14.5% 6%
4% 13.8% 3.7%
5.7% 13.8% 14.3%
Yoga, meditation and Internet prayer chains Contact with a guardian other Eastern spiritual on cell phones or angel practices mobile devices
Catholics Evangelicals
Paraprotestants Unaffiliated
40 Do you have a religious altar in your home? Representative data from national total
26.3%
88.4% Didn’t respond 0.6% 87.6%
49.9% Yes 54.8% No 44.7%
7.6% Comparative results by region 45.7%
42.6%
33.5% No No No 56.3% 54.2% 27.7%
Yes Yes Yes 43.7% 45.8% 72.3%
North, Northeast Northwest Central Mexico and the Gulf Region
6.3%
6%
3.7% No No 53.8% 47.5% 14.3% Yes Yes 46.2% 52.5%
Center West and Pacific South Center North and Southeast
41 Comparative by religion
No No 36.4% 99.1%
Yes Yes 63.6% 0.9%
Catholics Paraprotestants
No No 94% 91.4%
Yes Yes 6% 8.6%
Evangelicals Unaffiliated
Altar dedicated to…
0.1% 11.1% 0.1% 0.1% 1% 1.3% 0.3%
18.2%
0.1% 8.3% 59.4%
42 Virgen of Guadalupe
Virgen Mary
Your guardian angel
Christ
Santa Muerte
Patron saint of the parish/town
Folk saint (Juan Soldado, Malverde, San Simon or Maximon, San Pascual
Bailon, etc.)
Esoteric saint or guru (Saint Germain, light beings, gurus and ascended masters, others)
“Shine to the Ancestors” (Santería practice)
Prenda de muerto (Santería practice where a Nganga, vessel or other container represents the deceased)
Other 43 What do Mexicans believe? IV Key beliefs Do you think … exists? Representative data from national total
1.1% 4.4% 2.8% 2.7% 44.5% 25.4% 96.2% 51.1% 71.7%
God or a higher being Reincarnation (being Eternal life reborn after death)
2% 3% 1.1% 12.2% 20.4% 19.1% 85.8% 76.6% 79.8%
The power of The Bible as a source The Virgen of the Holy Spirit of absolute truth Guadalupe
2.7% 3.2% 3.4% 72.7% 44% 83.9% 24.6% 52.8% 12.7%
Ghosts, apparitions The Devil Contact with and poltergeists extraterrestrials
Sí No Didn’t respond
46 Comparative results by region Percentage who responded YES
97.7% 61.4% 80.8% 98.5% 58.3% 77.1% 2.8% 25.4% 96% 50.2% 73.2% 71.7% 98% 48.5% 68.7% 95.6% 48.8% 66%
God or a higher being Reincarnation (being Eternal life reborn after death)
87.4% 76.8% 69.1%
1.1% 93.3% 81.3% 89.1% 19.1% 86.4% 78.7% 83.4% 79.8% 82.9% 81% 78.5% 87.8% 72.6% 75.8%
The power of The Bible as a source The Virgen of the Holy Spirit of absolute truth Guadalupe
25.4% 60.6% 10.5% 27.4% 59% 14.6% 3.4% 83.9% 25.5% 49.8% 14.3% 12.7% 21% 53.1% 10.3% 28.8% 52.1% 17.2%
Ghosts, apparitions The Devil Contact with and poltergeists extraterrestrials
Northwest Central Mexico
North, Northeast and Center West and Center North
the Gulf Region Pacific South and Southeast 47 Comparative by religion Percentage who responded YES
71.4% 30.8% 33.8%
99.3% 36.3% 84%
99.1% 34.2% 84.2%
98.4% 56.9% 74.9%
God or a higher being Reincarnation (being Eternal life reborn after death)
35.2% 33.7% 24.7%
83.3% 84.7% 0%
78.6% 88.8% 0%
91.2% 80.7% 93.4%
The power of The Bible as a source The Virgen of the Holy Spirit of absolute truth Guadalupe
28.2% 46.9% 24.7%
15.1% 56.2% 4.2%
15.3% 63.3% 5.4%
26.3% 54.6% 13.5%
Ghosts, apparitions The Devil Contact with and poltergeists extraterrestrials
Catholics Evangelicals
Paraprotestants Unaffiliated
48 To what do you attribute your stability, success or failure in life? Representative data from national total 33.8%
84% 2.4% 0.6% 5.7% 8.5% 4% 84.2%
74.9%
35.9% 42.8%
24.7%
0%
0%
93.4%
Destiny
Luck 24.7%
4.2% Personal effort
5.4% God’s will 13.5% Social conditions
Karma
Compliance with God’s laws
Wouldn’t know/Didn’t respond
49 Comparative results by region
5.3% 11.1% 2.6% 10.4%
1.2% 2.5% 0.5% 3.8%
1.2% 42.1% 1.3% 40.8%
36.6% 40.7%
North, Northeast Northwest and the Gulf Region
7.5% 8% 5.1% 7.7%
0.7% 3.6% 0.7% 4.5%
3% 45.3% 2.5% 44.1%
32% 35.3%
Center West and Central Mexico Center North
7.3% 7.1%
0.2% 5.2%
3.2% 39%
38%
Pacific South and Southeast
50 Comparative by religion
5.1% 14.4% 9.1% 3.6% 0.5% 0.4% 3.9% 1.9% 2.5% 2.1% 43.4% 25.4% 35.5% 52.3%
Catholics Paraprotestants
10.8% 2.6% 3.5% 11% 0.1% 3.6% 3.8% 7.4% 1.6% 31.5% 3% 58.9% 49.8% 12.3%
Evangelicals Unaffiliated
Destiny
Luck
Personal effort
God’s will
Social conditions
Karma
Compliance with God’s laws
Wouldn’t know/Didn’t respond
51 What do you think about the role of religion in the public sphere? About civil (specifically, non- religious) liberties? Current secular policy and human rights? V Perceptions on religion and the Public Sphere Do you agree or disagree with the following statements or situations? Representative data from national total
1.1% 1.3% 1.7% 0.3% 0.8% 0.4% 8.2% 37.3% 18.4% 90.4% 60.6% 79.5%
Members of any Public schools should Sex education religious group should teach religious content in public schools have the same rights as and values all other citizens
3.3% 3% 5.4% 2.4% 1.6% 1.2% 65.2% 71.7% 62.1% 29.1% 23.7% 31.3%
A law permitting The right of gay Legal abortion same-sex marriage couples to adopt
3.5% 1.1% 67.9% 27.5%
Churches owning mass-media outlets
54 1.7% 3.3% 2.2% 1% 0.4% 0.8% 0.8% 0.9% 18.4% 25.1% 26.3% 23.5% 79.5% 70.8% 70.7% 74.6%
Gender diversity Observance of Set up altars to the in textbooks (i.e. traditional Catholic dead at public schools texts that do not celebrations (like acknowledge biological graduation masses or differences between Christmas pageants) at men and women) public schools
5.4% 2.5% 4.2% 3.2% 1.2% 0.9% 0.8% 0.8% 62.1% 88% 38.6% 75.3% 31.3% 8.6% 56.4% 20.7%
Candidates for public Churches rendering Religions openly positions using accounts to the tax participating in religious symbols to authority electoral policy attract votes
Yes
No I don’t care/I’m not interested
Don’t know
55 Comparative results by region Percentage who responded YES
92.3% 62.7% 71.5% 92.7% 69% 84.2% 88.2% 57.2% 83.3% 93.2% 58.3% 81.8% 93.7% 61% 77.7%
Members of any Public schools should Sex education religious group should teach religious content in public schools have the same rights as and values all other citizens
24.8% 18.4% 34.2% 28.3% 23.2% 22% 33.3% 26.6% 39.3% 30.7% 25.5% 32.3% 31.8% 28.8% 39.8%
A law permitting The right of gay Legal abortion same-sex marriage couples to adopt
41.1% 29.1% 23.6% 23.9% 32.7%
Churches owning mass-media outlets
56 71.5% 64.7% 66.5% 67.3% 84.2% 76.3% 77.1% 79.9% 83.3% 71% 72.7% 78.2% 81.8% 78.1% 72.6% 74.5% 77.7% 76.8% 66.4% 70.8%
Gender diversity Observance of Set up altars to the in textbooks (i.e. traditional Catholic dead at public schools texts that do not celebrations (like acknowledge biological graduation masses or differences between Christmas pageants) at men and women) public schools
34.2% 12.2% 56.9% 24.4% 22% 8.2% 61.8% 24.9% 39.3% 8.9% 59.9% 19.4% 32.3% 7.8% 53.8% 17.7% 39.8% 6.1% 62.8% 23.2%
Candidates for public Churches rendering Religions openly positions using accounts to the tax participating in religious symbols to authority electoral policy attract votes
Northwest
North, Northeast and the Gulf Region
Central Mexico
Center West and Center North
Pacific South and Southeast
57 Comparative by religion Percentage who responded YES
85.8% 35.7% 73.7%
93.6% 48% 60.8%
88.7% 51.9% 63.6%
91.6% 64.3% 83.5%
Members of any Public schools should Sex education religious group should teach religious content in public schools have the same rights as and values all other citizens
41.4% 34.7% 44.3%
8.7% 8.1% 25.5%
10.7% 10.1% 28.3%
31.9% 25.7% 33.2%
A law permitting The right of gay Legal abortion same-sex marriage couples to adopt
24.5%
35.1%
35.9%
27.9%
Churches owning mass-media outlets
58 73.7% 65.7% 41.2% 52.1%
60.8% 51.9% 32.1% 20%
63.6% 53.4% 23.2% 22.4%
83.5% 76% 78.8% 83.2%
Gender diversity Observance of Set up altars to the in textbooks (i.e. traditional Catholic dead at public schools texts that do not celebrations (like acknowledge biological graduation masses or differences between Christmas pageants) at men and women) public schools
44.3% 7.1% 57.1% 19.2%
25.5% 9.7% 57.7% 24%
28.3% 5.5% 56% 20.5%
33.2% 8.9% 59.1% 21.4%
Candidates for public Churches rendering Religions openly positions using accounts to the tax participating in religious symbols to authority electoral policy attract votes
Catholics
Paraprotestants
Evangelicals
Unaffiliated
59 Conclusions
The profile of religious change in Mexico
Mexico continues to be a majority Catholic country. It supports strong collective rituality linked to Catholic tra- dition with high participation indices when it comes to the veneration of the Virgin Mary and saints, alongside syncretic rituals like feast days, altars, pilgrimages and the system of ‘mandas’ (e.g., performing a pilgrimage or other devotion in exchange for divine intercession). It is undergoing slow but sustained religious change charac- terized by: • A shrinking Catholic population. • Expanding Evangelical and Paraprotestant religions. • Greater numbers of unaffiliated.
In light of increasing religious diversification, it is not key beliefs that are differentiating distinct religious followers; the Catholic hegemony is based on rites and everyday prac- tices identified as national culture. These also constitute an element of tension between Catholics and Evangelical/ Paraprotestant minorities.
60 Diversity’s challenges to democratic Mexico
Religious diversity in Mexico brings the added challenge of transition to a culture of religious plurality.
It demands new, inclusive narratives and rituals reflecting re- ligious diversity that is still largely Christian but now chara- cterized by a marked variety of devotional practices.
It also demands a new laicism that responds to a healthy di- vision between churches and state, as well as the creation of values and institutions that promote a pluralist culture of respect for social and religious minorities.
In general there is a recognition of the human right to reli- gious freedom.
We preceive a laicized attitude when it comes to a division between the political and religious realms.
When it comes to public issues like reproductive rights and family models, there are different positions among different believers and non-believers that are derived from their ethi- cal frameworks.
There are similarities between Evangelicals, Paraprotestants and a wide swathe of Catholics. They share a perception of common threats (e.g., feminism and the LGBTI-rights move- ment, etc.), even as they compete for followers.
School spaces are a tension area for the inclusion of diversity.
61 The Catholic profile
Catholics are increasingly distancing themselves from insti- tutional norms, preferring to think of themselves as Catholic “by tradition” and believers “in their own way.”
“By tradition” Catholics are both ritualists and tend to include other religious paradigms in their observances. Additionally, they are increasingly autonomous in their positions when it comes hierarchical church teachings. This is Catholicism handed down by tradition whose links to religious belonging are maintained through identification with a societal majori- ty or cultural heritage—and not due to any given conviction regarding beliefs.
Catholics are most likely to identify themselves as “believers in their own way.” This notion describes their notable perme- ability to heterodox beliefs and practices, such as belief in re- incarnation, or practicing indigenous- and/or esoteric-origin ritual cleansings. This is also reflected in resistance to conser- vative church hierarchy positions on issues like sex- and gen- der-education in schools, abortion, same-sex marriage, etc.
62 The Evangelical profile (i.e., Protes- tants and Pentecostals) and the Para- protestant profile (i.e., Jehovah’s Wit- nesses, Seventh-Day Adventists and Mormons)
These denominations have grown largely due to conversion processes since members’ “former religion” (i.e., Catholicism) “no longer satisfied them” and “they found new meaning in life.”
Their faithful evince a highly committed religiosity that is typical of first-generation minority believers.
They also evince greater commitment levels to institutions as well as high ritual frequency indices.
They are orthodox and evince less permeability to heterodox beliefs or practices in relation to their stated creed.
The unaffiliated profile
This is not synonymous with “non-believers” or atheists but rather relates to “unaffiliated believers” or “non-church spir- itual” subjects.
Atheism rates within this group are minimal.
This group practices a variety of individualized, if diffuse spiritualities, including Gnosticism, Spiritism, esoterism, “customs,” free-thinking, Eastern religious paths, new-age- ism, neo-Indianism and neo-paganism.
63