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Protestant Growth and Change in El Salvador: Two Decades of Survey Evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

Patricia B. Christian ,
Michael Gent  and
Timothy H. Wadkins
Patricia B. Christian
Affiliation:
Canisius College
Michael Gent
Affiliation:
Canisius College
Timothy H. Wadkins
Affiliation:
Canisius College
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Abstract

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Using data from three surveys of religion in El Salvador from 1988 to 2009, this research looks at changes in the demographic characteristics, religious orientations and practices, and political attitudes of Salvadorans as they transition from civil war to democracy and participation in global capitalism, and from mostly Catholic affiliation to increasing affiliation with Pentecostal Protestant churches. Over the two decades encompassed by the study, the Protestant population has become less clearly differentiated from the Catholic majority in terms of education, income, occupation, and even political beliefs, while remaining distinct in terms of religious beliefs and practices. Unlike much previous research, this study allows for comparisons among practicing and nonpracticing Catholics as well as Protestants and those identifying themselves as unaffiliated.

Resumo

Resumo

Este estudio, usando los datos de tres encuestas sobre la religión en El Salvador de 1988 a 2009, investiga los cambios en características demográficas, creencias y prácticas religiosas, y actitudes políticas de Salvadoreños durante su transformación desde la guerra civil hasta una democracia y la participación en la economía global. También, investiga este estudio la transformación de la gente, una población que se afilia cada vez más a iglesias protestantes —principalmente iglesias evangélicas y pentecostales. Durante las dos décadas que abarcas por nuestro estudio, la población protestante ha llegado a ser menos claramente distinguida de la mayoría católica en cuanto a educación, ingresos, ocupaciones, e incluso creencias políticas —mientras esta población protestante se ha quedado totalmente distinguida en cuanto a sus creencias y prácticas religiosas. Este estudio —a diferencia de muchas investigaciones previas— nos permite hacer comparaciones de una década a otra entre los católicos practicantes y no practicantes, además de los protestantes y los que no se identifican con ninguna religión.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , 2015 , pp. 140 - 159
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by the Latin American Studies Association

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