For all the ecumenical bridges that have been built in the
developed world between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, it's interesting
that in Latin America the old animosity remains.
This of course is in a state of flux as is the whole of
Catholicism but in traditionalist areas there's a real hostility to
Protestantism. It's viewed as a threat. I won't deny this is probably amplified
by economic troubles associated with the United States. There's bitterness
toward El Norte because of NAFTA and other deals which harmed their local
economies. For the people in places like Chiapas, Evangelicalism represents a
type of cultural imperialism.
When the movements were more Fundamentalist in outlook, such
accusations were easily denied but given the Dominionist transformation of
Latin American Evangelicalism, a process that's been underway in earnest for
the past decade or so... there might be something to it.
This of course does not excuse for a moment the persecution
of Evangelicals, most of which are Pentecostal. However it does indicate why
some of the traditional peoples (who have sacrally integrated Catholicism with
their identity) might feel threatened.
Evangelicalism is no longer about winning converts. It's primarily
about cultural transformation and so ultimately it comes down to politics. And
as we all know it doesn't take much for politics to become violent. After all
what is politics but the struggle for power, the war being fought without
bullets or before the bullets start flying? It's about factions vying for
control of the violence monopoly that is the state and its power to dictate
culture and control society.
Sadly as the Evangelicals grow in numbers and status I fully
expect them to turn to violence as well. Let's hope this isn't the case but I
fear it's inevitable.
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