Catholicism, religious diversity, and syncretism in the Latin American religious field and the immigrant religion contribution

This article seeks to recognise the role of immigrant religion in the current Chilean religious scenario. The analysis considers two approaches in the study of Latin American religion: (1) the monopoly that Catholicism has had since the colonial period to the recent increase of religious pluralism (i.e. the spread of Protestantism – Pentecostalism – and other religious expressions) and (2) the religious syncretism and heterodox religious practices outside the official religion. In addition, the research identifies a third trend: the role of immigrant religion in the revitalisation and cultural diversification of national parishes. This latter approach has been understood as a current phenomenon that produces national parishes integrated by Chileans and immigrants in the Chilean context.