The diversity of political pentecostalism in Latin America

We would like to begin this study of Latin America by posing the following question: Has the region become more religious, or is religion in Latin America simply becoming more and more political? The novelty of the phenomenon that inspires such a question assumes not only a higher degree of religious consciousness among political actors (albeit for utilitarian purposes) but also, first and foremost, a new kind of political consciousness among religious actors (especially Pentecostal Evangelicals) throughout Latin America (with “actors” being understood broadly here as including institutions, entire denominations, leading ministers, members of congregations, etc.). For this reason, our analysis will mainly focus on the ways and means in which the Evangelical community
in Latin America has been transforming its vision regarding the “church-world” relationship during the past 20 years or so, eschewing the long-held position of
“flight from the world” and coming to embrace a stance of “conquering the world” – not only spiritually, but also within the political sphere (i.e., within the very corridors of power). This sea change has primarily been driven by Christian Pentecostals (or “neo”-Pentecostals).