Exploring The Religious Landscape Of Bolivia

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a secular state that supports freedom of worship and government independence from religion. The most common religion in Bolivia is Roman Catholic Christianity, with approximately 77% of the population following this faith. The dominance of Catholicism in Bolivia can be traced back to the Spanish conquest of Latin America, and the religion has since been influenced by traditional indigenous beliefs.

Roman Catholic Christianity

During the colonial era, the Catholic Church and the Spanish crown had an agreement that gave them power over church affairs, making the church extremely wealthy. This intimate and mutual relationship gave the Catholic Church a strong influence in the country.

Even though Roman Catholicism no longer holds the same official status it once did, it continues to play a significant role in the lives of many Bolivians. For example, in the mining cities of Potosí and Oruro, thousands of Bolivians and foreign tourists celebrate Carnival by paying homage to the Virgin of the Mines and Pachamama, a goddess of the Earth from pre-Columbian religion. This blending of Catholic and indigenous traditions is also seen in the unification of Pacha Mama and the Virgin Mary in traditional religious artwork.

In recent years, Bolivia has seen a decrease in church attendance and an increase in secularization, with more diverse religious beliefs and practices emerging. However, Roman Catholic Christianity remains the predominant religion, with various Protestant denominations and other religious minorities making up the rest of the religious landscape.

Protestants and other non-Catholics

Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emerged in the 16th century with the goal of reforming the Catholic Church from perceived errors, abuses, and discrepancies. The Protestant movement began when Martin Luther published his Ninety-Five Theses, criticising the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the selling of indulgences.

Protestants follow the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, adhering to the concept of an "invisible church". They emphasise the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice, in contrast to the Catholic Church, which views itself as the "one true church". Protestants believe that salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone.

In Bolivia, the most common religion is Roman Catholicism, with approximately 65%-77% of the population identifying as Catholic. The second most chosen religion is evangelism, with approximately 16%-19% of the population identifying as Protestant, including evangelical Protestant and Pentecostal groups. Many indigenous communities, concentrated in rural areas, practice a mix of Catholicism and indigenous spiritual traditions.

Protestantism is diverse, with various denominations based on theology and ecclesiology. Some of the major Protestant denominational families include Adventists, Anabaptists, Anglicans/Episcopalians, Baptists, Calvinists/Reformed, Lutherans, Methodists, Moravians, Plymouth Brethren, Presbyterians, and Quakers. There are also independent, charismatic, and non-denominational churches, which constitute a significant part of Protestantism.

In Bolivia, evangelical Protestant community representatives have reported that smaller religious communities with "house churches" prefer not to register their organisations with the government to avoid providing access to their private internal information. Despite this, the government of Bolivia respects and provides for "freedom of thought, spirituality, religion, and worship", allowing educational institutions to teach religion, including indigenous spiritual belief classes.

Atheism or agnosticism

Atheism and agnosticism are two terms that are often confused with one another, but they represent distinct positions. Atheism is the psychological state of lacking the belief that God exists. In other words, an atheist is someone who does not believe in the existence of a god or divine being. The term "atheist" originates from the Greek "atheos", which is derived from the roots "a-" (without) and "theos" (a god).

Agnosticism, on the other hand, refers to a person who neither believes nor disbelieves in a god or religious doctrine. Agnostics assert that it is impossible to know how the universe was created and whether divine beings exist. The term "agnostic" was coined by biologist T.H. Huxley and comes from the Greek "agnostos", meaning "unknown or unknowable".

While atheists assert the non-existence of God, agnostics take a more neutral stance, claiming that knowledge about the existence of God is unattainable. This distinction is important, as it highlights different ways of approaching the question of God's existence. Atheists actively deny the existence of God, while agnostics remain open to the possibility but do not commit to a definitive answer.

It is worth noting that these terms are not mutually exclusive. One can be an agnostic atheist, neither believing nor disbelieving in God but also asserting that knowledge about God's existence is unattainable. Alternatively, one could be an agnostic theist, believing in God while acknowledging that ultimate knowledge about God's existence is beyond human comprehension.

In Bolivia, the religious landscape is predominantly Catholic, with approximately 65% of the population identifying as such. However, the survey also revealed that 6% of respondents did not profess any religion, and 1.1% defined themselves as atheists. While the number of self-identified atheists in Bolivia might seem low, it is important to consider the cultural and societal context, where atheists often face stigma and prejudice, influencing their willingness to openly identify as such.

Indigenous beliefs

The central Andean religions of the Aymará and Quechua are the most likely to be encountered by visitors to the country. These religions are based on animism and the belief in natural gods and spirits that date back to Inca times and earlier.

Pachamama (Mother Earth) is a popular recipient of sacrificial offerings. She is believed to share herself with human beings, help bring forth crops, and distribute riches to those she favours. She is often offered coca, alcohol, and the blood of animals, particularly white llamas. Llama fetuses are commonly wrapped up and buried under new constructions, especially homes, as an offering to Pachamama.

Mountain gods are also important in Andean religions. Apus are mountain spirits who provide protection for travellers and are often associated with a particular snow-capped peak. Illimani, for example, is an apu who watches over the inhabitants of La Paz. Achachilas are spirits of the high mountains, believed to be the ancestors of the people, who provide bounty from the earth and look after their tribe.

Ekeko is the jolly little household god of abundance. As he is responsible for matchmaking, finding homes for the homeless, and ensuring success for businesspeople, he is well looked after, especially during the Alasitas Festival in La Paz.

One of the most fascinating Aymará rituals is the Fiesta de las Ñatitas (Festival of Skulls), which is celebrated one week after the Day of the Dead. Skulls are presented at the cemetery chapel in La Paz to be blessed by a Catholic priest, adorned with flowers, candles, and coca leaves, and sometimes even sunglasses and a lit cigarette. After the blessings, the skulls are taken back to their owners' houses to bring good luck and protection.

Shamans oversee religious festivals, read fortunes, and provide traditional cures throughout Bolivia. They can most commonly be found near Copacabana during religious festivals, or in remote regions in the Amazon jungle.

Religious freedom

Bolivia is a secular nation, with the country's constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion and establishing a separation between church and state. The constitution prohibits religious discrimination, including in access to educational institutions, health services, and employment, and protects the right of access to public sport and recreational activities without regard to religion.

The constitution also provides educational institutions with the right to teach religion, including indigenous spiritual belief classes, with the stated aim of encouraging mutual respect among religious communities. While religion classes are optional, schools must teach ethics with curriculum materials that promote religious tolerance. The government does not restrict religious teaching in public or private schools, and it does not restrict a student from attending private, religiously affiliated schools. The law also requires all schools to accept students regardless of their religious affiliation.

In 2019, the Bolivian government passed the "Law on Religious Freedom, Religious Organizations, and Spiritual Beliefs" (LEY Nº 1161), which ended the Catholic Church's exemption from registering with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and acquiring a national legal personality. Since then, all religions and spiritual beliefs are treated equally before the law. The same law also establishes a principle of mutual respect "within the framework of interculturality".

Despite the law, some smaller churches in the evangelical Christian community have refused to register with the government, citing concerns for their privacy. While these groups have been unable to open bank accounts or hold property, the state has not otherwise interfered with their religious practice.

In 2018, a survey for Latinobarometro found that 36% of Catholics were active, while 59% of Protestants (including Pentecostals, Non-Catholic Charismatics, Lutherans, and Methodists) were active. Approximately 5% of the population identifies with smaller religious groups, and 5% self-identify as non-believers. There are approximately 1,500 Muslims and 450-500 Jews in Bolivia.

In 2018, the plans of President Evo Morales to approve a new Penal Code clashed with the liberties outlined in the Bolivian Constitution. Article 88.11 of the proposed Penal Code stated: "Whoever recruits, transports, deprives of freedom or hosts people with the aim of recruiting them to take part in armed conflicts or religious or worship organizations will be penalized [with] 7 to 12 years of imprisonment". A rigorous application of the Penal Code, Christians in Bolivia argued, could ban preaching in the streets and the sole action of inviting someone to a Christian event. The National Association of Evangelicals in Bolivia criticised the new Penal Code, stating that it was "deplorable that Bolivia becomes the first Latin American country to persecute the rights of freedom of conscience and of religion, which are protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the declaration of San José de Costa Rica, and our Constitution".

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