Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The study of the “religionless” population in Latin America has gained academic momentum in recent years, driven by a significant increase in individuals who identify as unaffiliated. This category includes a diversity of positions ranging from militant atheism to religious indifference. This article analyzes the challenges of conceptualizing and categorizing the “religious-less” within a sociocultural context deeply marked by religiosity. It highlights the contributions of Latin American scholars that address theoretical tensions, persistent stereotypes, and methodological gaps in the study of this multifaceted group. Case studies reveal that the “religious-less” are not morally lacking or disconnected, as is often assumed, but rather active actors in public life and democracy. This introduction underscores the need for flexible, intersectional, and relational approaches to understanding the spiritual trajectories and sociopolitical influence of this growing population. By exploring their beliefs and practices, we seek to redefine how the “religious” are represented in academic and social discourse, proposing dynamic frameworks that reflect their evolving self-perceptions and identities.
Source: Ciencias Sociales y Religión
Author: Valentina Pereira Arena
Institution: Universidad Católica del Uruguay
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414670956