Minorias Étnico-Religiosas Implantadas en España: Desigual Función y Posición de Dos Iglesias de Habla Inglesa en Málaga

Abstract

This article contributes to weigh up the effects of current religious pluralism in Spain that it results from an increase and diversification of population with life experience abroad. Firstly, this discussion anchors in the framework of Catholic Church monopoly that has dominated along centuries, in order to contrast contemporary Spanish reality, that could be defined as a society of recent and moderated religious pluralism, with the realities of other European and North American countries. Secondly, two English speaking Christian congregations located in the city of Malaga(Andalusia) are introduced as case studies, and the endogenous and exogenous factors that determine their different functions and positions in the receiving society are remarked. Among these factors the text emphasizes the different role of religious affiliation as an ethnic marker, and the influence of socioeconomic, physiognomic and cultural traits. The two cases and the initial discussion help to venture the future of minority confessions and their impact in an increasing secularized Spain.