Guatemala

Definition

Guatemala, with an estimated population of 16,548,168 in 2016 (INE 2016), is a highly religious country. Though the Constitution of 1985 declares the country a secular state, religious practice is profoundly influential at all levels of social life. Traditional values still predominate, and with them, the family, religious experience, and close emotional relations. Secularization in the form observable in Northern European countries is not evident. The religious sphere in Guatemala is presented through an historical review that describes pre-Columbian forms, the colonial experience, the independence period, and the era from the Second Vatican Council to the present. Particular attention is given to the evangelical churches, including Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal forms. The conclusion returns to themes of Mayan spirituality and religious pluralism in the context of religion in Guatemala today.

Introduction

In 1996, evangelicals were 25% of the population and Catholics some...