Religions of Mexico

Although the dominant religion in present day Mexico is Roman Catholicism, it has not
always been so. Prior to the Spanish Colonialization of Mesoamerica and what was present day
Mexico many indigenous religious practices existed. The largest of these ancient religions was
the Nahua religion, or the religion of the Nahuatl people. The religious practices of the native
Mexican people were shared by many tribes including the Maya, Olmec, and the Toltec, which
was eventually absolved by the larger, stronger native peoples, the Aztecs. The religions of the
native peoples of Mesoamerica were polytheistic and usually derived from a natural occurrence
and agriculture, the physical world around them. It was typical for the ancient peoples to hold
sacrificial rituals in order to appease the Gods and offer young children as gifts. However, after
the arrival of the Spanish, the influence of the native cultural and religious practice began to fade
and the domineering religion of Spain, Roman Catholicism, gave way to a culture in Mexico that
we still see today.
The arrival of the Spanish brought many things, disease, domesticated animals, steel, and
religion. Religion influenced a lot the genocide that occurred in Mesoamerica. Due to the
differing beliefs of the Native people and the Spanish. The Spanish felt that their lack of faith in
their monotheistic God was an issue of social order. Many of the natives believed that the
Spanish, whom appeared suddenly with their great weapons and riding horses, were Gods
themselves. In modern day Mexico, approximately 82% of the population considers themselves
Catholic. This high percentage has influenced many of the cultural norms that one might witness
in Mexico. One example is Dia de los Muertos, this religious and cultural day is a day to

respect and celebrate the dead. It is interesting though that it is a solely Mexican celebration that
pulls elements from native Mexican practices and mixes it with a more modern Catholicism.
All religions have sacred spaces for a follower to worship or pray. In the religion of
Roman Catholicism, Cathedrals exist. Many Mexican families make it a custom or a tradition to
gather at a church or cathedral on a Sunday to celebrate and worship their beliefs. Not exclusive
to Mexican followers of Catholicism, is the Vatican. The Vatican is a city state in Italy that
functions as a Catholic community with the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, living and
performing is daily work in the city. Places of worship for the native culture of Mexico include
the cenote, a geological formation resulting in a sinkhole. No longer used for sacrificial rituals,
the sites were once used to drown offerings to the Gods.
Historically many cultures and countries had ties between the government and the
religious beliefs of that country. But in many countries like the United States, we practice the
idea of separation of church and state, which is the idea that ones religious beliefs should not
affect the government or the decisions the government makes. In Mexico the separation of
church and state also exist, and in 1917 the state issued limitations on the influence of religion.
From what I have observed and read, despite the separation of church and state, because
of the high percentage of the Mexican population being followers of Roman Catholicism it is
very hard to see where the line exists between church and state. Many cultural norms are
influenced by religion, however this is not solely a phenomoen in the Mexican culture. Overall,
the cultures of the world have been influenced by religion and will forever be influenced by
them.