Secular Syncretism 1: Introduction

Growing up in Chile, I got to learn a lot about all kinds of religion. The country was ostensibly Catholic, but the vast majority of well-off, city folks were only nominally so. However, though the almost never attended church, they held on to a superstitious sort of religious life. Many crossed themselves every time the past a church.

In addition to the devout and the nominal Catholic, I also got to know syncretism quite well. There was a large population of indigenous peoples, and many of them contributed ancient beliefs and practices to the “Catholic” systems. Scattered around the countryside were “Animitas,” statues to honor people who had died in accidents, or even saints, that people prayed at. There was also a well-known statue dedicated to an Indian that people would pray to; and they claimed that their prayers were answered.

Syncretism—or the mixture of one religion with another, imposed over the old—is famous across cultures in South America and Africa. But is that the only expression of syncretism? Or, is there syncretism alive and well in Western culture? I believe that we do see it in modern day Europe and the United States. Over the next few weeks I intend to expand upon those claims…