Date of Award
2008
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Submission Date
October 2026
Abstract
Since the 1960s Latin America has experienced a religious transformation, with several countries developing significant Protestant populations. These religious changes have influenced the political processes of several Latin American nations, playing a prominent role in elections and the formation of political platforms. Several theories attempt to account for the recent growth in religious pluralism, particularly social anomie theory and religious market models. These theories ignore or downplay the role of conflict between the state and civil society, especially violent confrontations between the government and the Roman Catholic Church. This study focuses on four case studies with varying amounts of church-state conflict and differing religious pluralistic growth rates: Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, and Southern Mexico. This study finds that church-state conflict serves as a catalyst, and in some cases a useful predictor, of growth in religious pluralism.
Recommended Citation
McMillan, Michael., "role of church-state conflict in the growth of religious pluralism in Latin America" (2008). Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2003 - 2009. 83.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_honors_1/83
Extent
viii, 80 leaves : ill.
Identifier
289036962
Comments
by Michael McMillan.