Forum Examines Latino Secularism
Do Latinos equate
“no religion” with secularism? Is there a secular tradition among
Latinos? These were among a host of questions and related issues
addressed by a panel of scholars during a March 7 colloquium
presented by the Trinity-affiliated Institute for the Study of
Secularism in Society and Culture (ISSSC). Held in the Terrace Rooms
in Mather Hall, “Are U.S. Latino Society & Culture Undergoing
Secularization?” began with a presentation of key findings from the
2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) by ISSSC
Associate Director Ariela Keysar.
The ARIS/PARAL
report was the result of a unique collaborative effort between the
social scientists of the Program for the Analysis of Religion
Among Latinos/as (PARAL) and ISSSC Director Barry Kosmin and Keysar,
who in early 2001 carried out the survey. The goal of the project
was to provide a comprehensive social-scientific understanding of
the religious lives and worldviews of more than 35 million persons
of Hispanic heritage in the United States.
The explosive growth
of the Latino population in the United States would seem to be a
boon for American churches, and most of them have, in fact, been
strengthened by increasing numbers of Latino adherents. The 2001
ARIS/PARAL report, however, suggests a weakness of Latino ties to
religious institutions. The distinguished speakers tackled this
issue as well as questions about whether the ARIS findings reflect
the experience of local Latino communities in Hartford and New
England.
In addition to
Keysar and Kosmin, participants included Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo
of Brooklyn College, Efrain Agosto of the Hartford Seminary, Carleen
R. Basler of Amherst College, and José E. Cruz of the State
University of New York, Albany.
Established in 2005,
the mission of the ISSSC is to advance understanding of the role of
secular values and the process of secularization in contemporary
society and culture. It serves as a forum for civic education and
debate through lectures, seminars, and conferences. Made possible by
the generous support of the Posen Foundation of Lucerne,
Switzerland, the institute is part of the College's Program on
Public Values, an initiative designed to foster a comprehensive
understanding of some of the central issues and ideas of the
contemporary world.
For further information about the ISSSC, please go to
http://www.trincoll.edu/Academics/AcademicResources/values/ISSSC/default.htm.
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