From Domination to Dialogue

Theological Transformations in Catholic-Indigenous Relations in Latin America

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3437599
AutoresErich Wolff (0000-0003-2479-2340, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, autor de correspondencia)
Año2025
Volumen16
Número7
Páginas859
Fecha de publicación2025-07-02
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaReligions (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
EditorialMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel16070859
OpenAlexW4411930160
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas12

The aim of the article is to analyze the relationship between the Christian faith and the spiritual traditions of the indigenous peoples of Latin America, seeking to identify elements that make it possible to trace paths of dialogue and mutual cooperation. It shows that historically, there have been tensions and conflicts between these traditions, but today, there is a path towards overcoming this reality through social solidarity, which serves as a basis for dialogue between the ways of believing. The research method is comparative and involves a qualitative analysis of the bibliography dealing with the relationship between the Church and Latin American indigenous spiritualities. The bibliographic base is documental, with emphasis on the conferences of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Synod for the Amazon (2019) and the magisterium of Pope Francis, read from the perspective of the Second Vatican Council and the current theology of religions. The conclusion is that the Church is developing an important social dialogue to promote justice and the rights of indigenous peoples. This dialogue serves as the basis for a dialogue with the beliefs and spiritualities of these peoples. The challenge for this is to review mission objectives and methods in order to overcome the conversionist perspective in the relationship with indigenous peoples, taking paths of mutual respect and acceptance and valuing them beyond being the recipients of evangelization. In this way, indigenous spiritual traditions can be recognized not only as "seeds" of the Word to be developed by evangelization but as an already mature fruit of God's relationship with these peoples

Biology · Indigenous · Latin Americans · Political science · Sociology · Theology · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious and Theological Studies