However, despite the severe competition, the people of Latin America still hold the traditions of the church close to their hearts and give a lot of respect to religious figures (Jean-Pierre, 1998).
The relationship between the church and the government has been very closely bonded. The message coming from the religious quarters has been very finely tuned in line with the policies of the governments as well as the status quo. Contradiction and conflict does seem to exist on the surface, however, deep down the bond between the state actors and the church is very strong. Lately, the church has also power of becoming a very strong instrument of political and social campaign, capable of bargaining with the state actors so as to meet its own ends (Jean-Pierre, 1998).
The relationship between the church and the military has been perhaps the strongest of them all. Religion has been a major source of inspiration for the armed forces and has been a major assurance to secure connection between the workings of the state and the affairs of the church and as a result has played a major role in promoting democracy. Regrettable, very little scholarly attention has been given to analyze the means by which the bond between the military and the church are knitted together (Jean-Pierre, 1998).
Lastly, it is important to note that, despite its strong relationship with the state and the non-state actors as well as the people of the region and despite the exposure to the process of globalization, the church has not changed its internal method of controlling the conflicts and the ideology it is aiming to spread. Scholars believe that the people will move away from the established traditions and religious cultures, if the church refuses to embrace modernization. However, some believe that this warning has come a little too late and that globalization has played its part in influencing the people to more forward (Jean-Pierre, 1998).
Christendom vs. secularism Liberation theology vs. conservatism in Latin America
Christendom can be classified as a belief founded upon a specific brand of relationship between the church and the people, rested firmly on the intervention of the state. The essence of the Christendom is believed to possess two swords, one being the Pope and the other being the head of State. However, many scholars believe that this relationship has had a severe blow in the face of globalization and transnationalization. It is important to note there that the followers of Christendom are in huge majority in the Latin America, particularly the Roman Catholics; however, many scholars have also noted the rise of evangelical-Protestants. These scholars believe that an all-out confrontation might be possible between the two groups in an attempt to acquire support and cooperation from the people and the state actors so as to establish not only their supremacy in the religious field but also to augment their social, economic and political agenda throughout Latin America (Rene, 1999).
Secular Liberation theology focuses on the relentless energy of religion seen throughout the Latin America countries as a vibrant and forceful social system, implanted and surrounded in the life of the people as a realm of social activity and not political action. Almost all sociological scholars of modernization and internationalization believe that religion should be demoted to a secondary status and the state should be following policies independent of religious influence. However, religion and especially Catholicism has been very rooted in the socio-economic structures of Latin America and the sociological scholars of modernization and internationalization have found it very difficult to carry out their agenda, as a result, these secular forces of modernization and internationalization have been looking to develop coalitions with international organizations so as to gain legality and become a political and economic force in Latin America (Catalina, 2001).
While the whole of Europe and United States developed and remained devoted to science and technology, their perspectives on different social issues also grew with the progress of science and technology. This growth on issues related to rational, realism, and critical thinking, and has influenced shared procedures of the construction of their societies. However, all this time the main areas of discussion in Latin America had been the socio-economic literature related to theology. The conservative forces in Latin America as well as that of North America see Catholic education as means of analyzing the contemporary world to bring about a socio-economic change in their life styles. These forces view the secular Liberation theology in a very negative way and are reluctant to adopt the ideas of modernity brought...
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