Chapter 10: Demographic Profile of Religious Groups

The Pew Research survey of 18 Latin American countries and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico finds relatively few statistically significant differences between Catholics and Protestants when it comes to demographic characteristics, such as age, gender and educational attainment. In a few countries, however, Protestants are less likely than Catholics to have at least a […]

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Chapter 4: Pentecostalism

Many Christians in Latin America identify with Pentecostalism and related movements. Pentecostals take their name from the biblical feast of Pentecost (originally the Jewish festival of Shavuot, which took place 50 days after Passover), when the apostles and other early followers of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and suddenly “began to speak in […]

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Chapter 5: Social Attitudes

Latin Americans tend to express traditional views about sexuality, marriage and social mores. For example, majorities in most Latin American countries are opposed to allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally. And solid majorities in almost all countries surveyed say abortion should be illegal in all or most circumstances. Across the region, Protestants are […]

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Appendix B: Glossary

Afro-Caribbean/Afro-Brazilian/indigenous religions Traditions that combined African beliefs and practices, which initially were brought to the Caribbean and South America by African slaves, with religious beliefs and practices that were native to the region. Examples include Candomblé, Santeria and Umbanda. Candomblé Religion based on African beliefs that is very popular in Brazil. The religion mixes traditional […]

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Section 3: Social & Political Issues

Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage The public is evenly divided over whether businesses that provide wedding services, like catering or flowers, should be required to provide services to same-sex couples despite religious objections to same-sex marriage. Half (49%) say that wedding-related businesses should be required to provide services to same-sex couples just as they would to […]

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About the Survey

The analysis in this report is based on telephone interviews conducted Sept. 2-9, 2014, among a national sample of 2,002 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (801 respondents were interviewed on a landline telephone and 1,201 were interviewed on a cellphone, including 673 […]

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