Religion and Change in a Mexican Village

Abstract

Fundamentalist Protestantism is diffusing rapidly throughout Latin America and is present in virtually every rural village and urban neighborhood. Owing to the historical dominance of nominal Catholicism, many Latin American regions now have more practicing Protestants than practicing Catholics. Protestantism first reached San Buenaventura Nealtican, a highland peasant village in Mexico's Puebla Valley, in 1931. Five non-Catholic faiths presently operate in the village: Pentecostal, Mormon, Separatist-Mormon, Baptist and Light of the World. Protestants, many of them second and third generation members, constitute 10% of the population and, in terms of functional religious activity, Nealtican is now a Protestant village. Catholics are most attracted to Protestantism by its strong sense of community and social belonging, which results from its small church structure and emphasis on lay participation, and by its doctrinal teachings. Although perceived economic gain is seldom a factor in the conversion proces...