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Peru - Religion

Religion in Peru

The religion of Peru is an inheritance of the Spanish conquest, for this reason, it is a mainly Catholic country (more than 75% of the population). Since the 16th century, along with Catholicism, expressions of the native religion, based on the cult of the Sun, the Pachamama (Mother Earth) and elements of nature, have also been present. Those who study religion, still can’t agree how to treat two very different religions in a process of fusion or of parallel beliefs.

Moreover, recently many diverse churches have appeared, and we can see that the Peruvian population is still very religious and that the percentage of atheists and declared agnostics is very low.

For example, Peru has Protestant churches that are the fruit of the work of North American and European missionaries. There also are Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Adventists, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Hare Krishnas. Religions have also arisen from the present time, like the group Israelitas del Nuevo Pacto (Israelis of the New Pact – which always participate in political elections), the Movimiento de la Nueva Era (the Movement of the New Era – which has the characteristic of fusioning religion, philosophy and traditional customs) and other groups that have responded to the needs of people to fill the spaces that the last century left within. Religious activity in Peru is important, and for many people, one of the "centers of energy" in the world is the city of the Cusco.

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