Syncretism: Religion 1

 

Map 1: Studying Syncretism in Tlaxcala, Mexico and surrounding areas.

    In the map above, there is a pink path. This path represents the border of Tlaxcala, Mexico. This is the example that we will be evaluating to study religion in Latin America and the Caribbean. There are several red and yellow placemarks. These placemarks are indicators of some of the many cities and towns in Tlaxcala. The yellow placemarks represent a city or town that has a name associated with Catholicism. The red placemark represents a city or town that does not have a name associated with Catholicism. By looking at the map, it is apparent that the name diversity is spread fairly even throughout; there is nearly an equal amount yellow and red placemarks. The names of these cities and towns are used as symbolism. The diversity of names displays the differences of religious beliefs in Latin America and the Caribbean, this is where the concept of syncretism comes in.

    Syncretism involves the blending of multiple different beliefs. A great example of this is located on the map above. The single blue placemark displays a Catholic church, Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios. The gorgeous church is pictured below. 

Image 1: Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, Image from Google Earth

    The significance of this Roman Catholic Church is that it was built by the Spaniards on top of a precolonial pyramid. This pyramid was built by the Aztecs and used as a religious structure. When the Spaniards were conquering Latin America and the Caribbean, they used this sort of technique to spread Catholicism, essentially trying to assert dominance. Along with many others, Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios is a great example of syncretism in Latin America and the Caribbean. The concept of syncretism is present not only through names of towns, but also landscape and building structure in the region.