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Religion has been an important factor in Ecuadorian society. Many diufferent Aneriindian groups developed vaied religous tradituions with shared elements. The Inca worshipped the sun. The conquest of Peru began in southern Ecuador. The country as a result of the Conquista and Spanish colonial era is heavily Catholic. The Conquistadores were after gold, but the monarchy made converying the nagives and saving souls a major priority. Monks accompaied the Conquistadoes to pursue the effort. Many children do First Commununions. With independence (1822), the role of the Church became an issue throughout Latin America in condlict between liberals and conservatives. Ecuadorian consevatives were the strongest in Latin Amnerica. Quito has been called a city of churches. Catholicism was made the official religion (1869) making Catholics the only persons to be eligible for citizenship. The first nation consecrate itself by plebecite to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1874). After a plebecite, the Archbishop of Quito, Jose Ignacio Checa y Barba, and President Gabriel Garcia Moreno jointly and solemnly consecrated Ecuador (1874). The Church resisted social reforms like land reform. A liberal government led by President Alfaro Delgado established a new constitution that encouraged respect for all religions (1899). There was a general decline in Church attendance (20th century) . By mid-century we seen many churches with few people, mostly children and elderly women. Even those who do not regularly practice their faith, still consider themselves culturally Catholic. The Church has had trouble recruting priests. Ther were a number of Spanish priests. As in other Latin American countries, many are now non-believers or agnostic. Protestants have made inroads in recent countries. While still relatively small in numbers, Protestant congregants are much more engaged. Catholocism continue to be the country's principal relgion, although Ecuadorians who consider thenselves to be Catholic are not actually practicing the relgion. The only other organized religion of any imprtance is Protestantism.
Religion has been an important factor in Ecuadorian society. Many different Aneriindian groups developed vaied religous tradituions with shared elenements. Modern Ecuador was the northrn reach of the Inca Empire. The Inca worshipped the sun. The Spanish stamped out Aneri0ndian relogious practice, althouhn elements of these relgions were absorned in Catholcism. The conquest of Peru began in southern Ecuador. The country as a result of the Conquista and Spanish colonial era is heavily Catholic. The Conquistadores were after gold, but the monarchy made converting the natives and saving souls a major priority. Monks accompaied the Conquistadoes to pursue the effort. The Inquisition was vigilent bto make sure Jews did not enter the Emoire. there was a widespread belief that Conversos continued to be secret Jews. The klingering impact was anti-Semitism even though few Ecuadoreans had ever met a Jew. They also kept out Protestnts. With independence (1822), the role of the Church became an issue throughout Latin America in condlict between liberals and conservatives. Ecuadorian consevatives were the strongest in Latin Amnerica. Quito has been called a city of churches. Catholicism was made the official religion (1869) making Catholics the only persons to be eligible for citizenship. The first nation consecrate itself by plebecite to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1874). After a plebecite, the Archbishop of Quito, Jose Ignacio Checa y Barba, and President Gabriel Garcia Moreno jointly and solemnly consecrated Ecuador (1874). The Church resisted social reforms like land reform. A liberal government led by President Alfaro Delgado established a new constitution that encouraged respect for all religions (1899). There was ageneral decline in Church attendance (20th century). By mid-century we seen many churches with few people, mostly children and elderly women. Even those who do not regularly practice their faith, still consiuder themselves culturally Catholic. The Church has had trouble recruting priests. Ther were a number of Spanish priests. As in other Latin American countries, many are now non-believers or agnostic. This decline in religious prctive has mean that religion has become less of a mnajor factor. Protestants have made inroads in recent countries. While still relatively small in numbers, Protestant congregants are much more engaged.
The northern coast of Peru was one of the five locatiions where civilization arose. Ecuador was on the northern fringe of this development. Many different civilizations developed. This was independent nof Meso-merica, although there was contact and exchanges. (Corn based agriculture is an example.) Their religiions shared many common elements, but there were also many differences. At the time of the comquest, the Inca had conquered much of modern Ecuador, but only recently. Catholocism imposed on the native Amer-Indian populstion continues to be the country's principal relgiious faith. This is, however, includeds large number of people who consider themselves to be culturally Catholic. but are not actively practicing the relgion. The only other organized religion of any imprtance is Protestantism wehich in recent years has grown, but still includes only a small part of the population. It is difficult to assess the level of atheism/agnosticism, but it has been growing with the increasing popularity of socialist ideology. There are today other religious faiths present in Ecuador. They have mostly been introduced by immigrant groups. The lagest is probably Jehiva Witnesses. Others include: Apostolic Faith, Baha'i, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Latter-day Saints. All of these faith groups are present in only small numbers. They have mostly been introduced and their prsctice largely limited to ethnic groups.
The northern coast of Peru was one of the five locatiions where civilization arose. Ecuador was on the northern fringe of this development. Many different civilizations developed all with relgious beliefs. This was independent of Meso-America, although there was indirect contact and exchanges. (Corn based agriculture is an example.) Their religiions shared many common elements, but there were also many differences. At the time of the Conquest (1530s), the Inca had conquered much of modern Ecuador, but only recently. They were in the process of moving into what is now Colombia. The Incan religion was basically animistic with an impressive polythestic pantheon. To the Inca, the gods resided in their native Andean mountains. The Inca placated the gods with offerings of corn, chica, meat, and occasionally human sacrifices. While they practiced human sacrifise, it was not on the same level as Mesoamerican peoples. Their religion emphasized ancestor worship. At its basis, Incan religious beliefs were intimately connected with nature and included the belief that Inca rulers were direct descendants of the sun god, Inti. The Inca imposed their religion on conquered oeopole, but this process had only begun. The Inca approach to asssimalating conquered peoople was to combine their own deities with that of the conquered peoople. But they did so in ways that raised the status of their dieties. An example is Pachamama--the goddess of Earth, who was worshiped long before the rise of the Inca. In Inca mythology, once Pachamama was integrated, it was placed below the Moon who the Inca believed ruled over all female gods.
The Conquistadores did not just introduce Roman Catholocism on Ecudaor it forced it on the Amer-Indiaan population at the point of the speatar. Pizarro first landed in Ecuador, but then followed Incaroads south and seized the Inca Atalalpa (1532). The conquest of Ecuador fiollowed shiortly after, conducted by Sebastian de Benalcazar (1534). A major objective of the Spanish was to thriughly destroy the native religion and Christianize the natives. This was largely accomplisdhed by Spanish authorities abd Spanish friars and monks. As a result, Catholicism was nmade and continues to be the dominant and for several cenuturies the almost exclusive religion in Ecuador. The Spanish colonial empire was ajoint enterporise od state and church. Even after independence (1822) this relationship continued. Catholicism was made the official religion of Ecuador after 1869 making Catholics the only persons to be eligible for citizenship. The republic was cconsecrated to the Sacred Heartof Jesus. A liberal government led by President Alfaro Delgado after a century of political debate established a new constitution that encouraged respect for all religions and a guaranteed freedom of choice for religious practices (1899). Until then the Catholic Church dominated education. The resulting religious freedom had an impact on society (20th century). Roman Catholic Christianity still accounts for some 80 percent of the population. This means peoole who identify as Catholic, but who do not actively practice the faith. Many children do First Commununions including children from families that are not active church menbers..
The Spanish Inquisition did not permit Protestants in the Empire. At the time the Empire was established, primary focus of Spanish monarchy was to destroy the Protgestant Reformnation. The first Protestants in Ecuador were English and German immigrants involded in commerce that arrived after independence (1822). Their relgious practice had little imoact on the larger population. What did establisdh Protestantism in Ecuador was evangelical missionaries. This began to have some impact (19th century) and gained some momentum under liberal governments establkished constitutional guarantees for freedom of religion (1899). The growth of Protestantusm has been largely conducted by Evangelicals, including many Pentecostals. Unlike Catholics, for the most part they are not based in impressive church buildings with imposing artistic adornment. Most of the main line Protestant churches are not particularly active in Ecuador. Evangelical efforts became increasingly important after World War II, initially the work of mostly missionaries from Anerica. These churches are almost entirely made up of Ecuadoreans, not immigrannts. Protestanbts now account for over 10 poercent of yhje population. Unlike Catholics these are not people who are culturally Pretstestant, but mostly people actively practicing their religion. And they seem less attractedc to socialist ideology than Catholic Ecuadorians. Just as in Europe, Protestant North Aamerica has evolved much more prosperous societies than the Catholic south.
Atheism is the belief that God or any devine power does not exist. Agnosticism is more of a skeptical. attitude. Such beliefs, especially atheism was dangerous to exoress during the colonial era when the Inquisition was still active. Here we are not hust talking about non-practicing Catholics, but people who dustanced themselves from the Church. With indepence it became less dangerous to express such beliefs, but not socially acceptable (19th century). This changed with the growing acceptance of socialist ideology in Latin America, especially after World War II. An element of Marxiat ideology is atheism. And Communist Goivernments pursue atheism camapigns. Many Ecuadoreans today have to come to support left-wing poluticans, although atheism is not a major part of their camapign rhtoric. It is mostly promoses for improved economic conditions. Which is facinating because a socialist country has yet to create a sucessful economy. the ecoinomic successes are all capitalist economies like the Asian Tigers. Or Communist China which adopted capitalism. But such is the appeal of socialist ideology that it has attracted many adherents throughout Latin America. In many ways its takes on the character of a pseudio religion. This attachment to socialism probably explains why there are no Latin American tiger economies. The failure is prbably less the impact of Catholocism, but the important of statist rather individual iniatives that was part of thE Soanish colonial reh=gine and outlook. A rekated develooment is Liberatiin Theology. This involved a sgment if the Church adoopting socialist ideology and thus abandoing core Christian values. Pope Francis seems influenced by such thought. It seems less important in ecuador than sevderal other Latin American countries. One authors believes that atheist and agnosticism views are held by less than 10 percent of the populatiion. But this is very difficult to assess or to differentiate between Ecuadorians whi are culturally Cathholic, but do not practice their relgion.
Jehovah's Witness are a Christian denomination whose beliefs differ substantially from mainstream as well as Evangelical Christian views. The Jehovah's Witnesses were founded by Charles Taze Russel (late-18th century). His ideas emerged from the Bible Student Movement. To distinguish themselves from other Bible student groups, they adopted the name Jehovah's Witness (1931). Jehovah of course is the God of the Bible. They are a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with a non-trinitarian ideology wiuth distinct views from mainstream Christianity. These essentially discazrd all Church doictrine that is not Bible based. The itnesses use a door to door approach of spreading the faith and to distribute their publications such as The Watchtower. Some 1 percent of the population may be Jehovah's Witnesses.
There are today other religious faiths present in Ecuador. They have been introduced by immigrant grouos include: Apostolic Faith, Baha'i, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Latter-day Saints. All of these faith groups are present in only small numbers. They have mostly been introduced and their prsctice largely limited to ethnic groups. Combined they may total 2 percent of the population. Some of the Amazonian tribes in the Oriente have beeb Cgrur=tianized. Others persiust wuth Animistic beliefs.
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