Category:Chile

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Chile is a country in South America.

See Chilean -/- Spanish language -/- Chilean Scholarship -- Chilean Scholars -/- Chilean Fiction -- Chilean Authors

Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Chile

Christianity (in its Roman Catholic form) was carried to South America in the 16th century by the Spanish conquistadors. Catholic practices, especially in rural areas, incorporated ancient Andean indigenous ceremonies. Spanish colonial rule, from the 16th to early 19th centuries, gave the Catholic Church a situation of monopoly, enforced by the Inquisition.

In the 19th century, with the creation of the modern Chilean State and the arrival of numerous immigrants, the religious situation became more diverse, and Protestant, Jews and Muslims gained freedom of worship.

Contemporary times

Today, the overwhelming majority of Chilean people (around 70%) identify themselves as Roman Catholics and the Catholic Church has a special role of predominance in Chilean society, although the Chilean constitution grants freedom to all religions.

Chile has a significant Evangelical minority (around 15% of the population) and several small Jewish and Muslim communities.