Argentineans and Religion
Approximately 90 percent of Argentineans are born Roman Catholics or Christians. About two percent of the population is Protestant and, according to recent Argentinean statistics, about 400,000 Jews live in Buenos Aires.
According to the World Christian Database. Argentines are 92.1% Christian or Roman Catholic, 3.1% agnostic, 1.95 Muslim, 1.3% Jewish, 0.9% Atheist, and 0.9% Buddhist and other.
The following is from the Argentina.gov website:
According to the National Constitution , in its 14th. Article establishes that “All inhabitants in the Nation have same rights conforming to the laws that rule their practice, namely: to run any licit industry; to sail and trade; to petition; to come in, stay, travel and go out of the territory; to publish their ideas on the press with no prior censorship; to use and dispose of their real estate; to get associated for useful purposes; to freely practice their cult or religion ; to teach and to learn ". The Argentinean government has a Secretary of Cult whose main purpose is to keep records of all cults via. a registry of all recognized cults along with maintaining peace between the different cults.
Major Festivals Observed by Argentineans
Main Popular Festivities
• Our Lady of Itatí: July 9.
• Virgen of Carmen de Cuyo: July 16.
• Pacha Mama: August 1.
• Saint Cayetano: August 7.
• Our Lady of Luján: October 1.
• San Martín de Tours: November 11.
• New Year: January 1.
• The Three Wise Men: January 6.
• Easter and Sunday of Resurrection: The date varies according to the year.
• Immaculate Conception of Virgin María: December 8.
• Christmas: December 25.
Up until recently the President of Argentina needed to be Roman Catholic in order to become president. Also the Roman Catholic Church supported and the government financially, this is a conflict of interest where the Church would have say in many political debates.
In reference to Maine
The religion in Maine according to city-data.com is Maine had about 283,024 Roman Catholics and an estimated 8,290 Jews in 2000. The leading Protestant denominations were the United Methodist Church, with 31,689 adherents; the United Church of Christ, 29,122; and the American Baptists USA, 26,259. The Muslim community had about 800 members. Over 800,000 people (about 63.6% of the population) were not counted as members of any religious organization.
Problems faced by Argentineans, and other religious people, that would immigrate to Maine
Except for New Years, Easter, and Christmas many of the Festivals that are observed or celebrated by Argentineans are not observed here in the United States. If the Argentinean people were to assimilate here then it would be very difficult for them to observe or celebrate their own festivals which are very important to their own religions. I feel that this is true to many religions because, the Unites States only observes a handful of Holiday's and employers are not willing to allow time for people to celebrate the days that are important to them religiously.
Another issue is that many people have the notion that Christianity and Catholicism are under the same church and they are not. Where the Pope is the head of the Catholic church there is no head of the Christian church other than Christ. This I have found, from talking to Catholics and Christians in Maine, is an issue because many people assume that the Catholic holiday's are the same as Christians and they are not.
What Can be Done?
1. Don't assume that one religion is above another
2. Don't assume that one religion is connected to another without doing some research
3. Be respectful of other's holidays and observances, if you don't know anything about them ask.
Approximately 90 percent of Argentineans are born Roman Catholics or Christians. About two percent of the population is Protestant and, according to recent Argentinean statistics, about 400,000 Jews live in Buenos Aires.
According to the World Christian Database. Argentines are 92.1% Christian or Roman Catholic, 3.1% agnostic, 1.95 Muslim, 1.3% Jewish, 0.9% Atheist, and 0.9% Buddhist and other.
The following is from the Argentina.gov website:
According to the National Constitution , in its 14th. Article establishes that “All inhabitants in the Nation have same rights conforming to the laws that rule their practice, namely: to run any licit industry; to sail and trade; to petition; to come in, stay, travel and go out of the territory; to publish their ideas on the press with no prior censorship; to use and dispose of their real estate; to get associated for useful purposes; to freely practice their cult or religion ; to teach and to learn ". The Argentinean government has a Secretary of Cult whose main purpose is to keep records of all cults via. a registry of all recognized cults along with maintaining peace between the different cults.
Major Festivals Observed by Argentineans
Main Popular Festivities
• Our Lady of Itatí: July 9.
• Virgen of Carmen de Cuyo: July 16.
• Pacha Mama: August 1.
• Saint Cayetano: August 7.
• Our Lady of Luján: October 1.
• San Martín de Tours: November 11.
• New Year: January 1.
• The Three Wise Men: January 6.
• Easter and Sunday of Resurrection: The date varies according to the year.
• Immaculate Conception of Virgin María: December 8.
• Christmas: December 25.
Up until recently the President of Argentina needed to be Roman Catholic in order to become president. Also the Roman Catholic Church supported and the government financially, this is a conflict of interest where the Church would have say in many political debates.
In reference to Maine
The religion in Maine according to city-data.com is Maine had about 283,024 Roman Catholics and an estimated 8,290 Jews in 2000. The leading Protestant denominations were the United Methodist Church, with 31,689 adherents; the United Church of Christ, 29,122; and the American Baptists USA, 26,259. The Muslim community had about 800 members. Over 800,000 people (about 63.6% of the population) were not counted as members of any religious organization.
Problems faced by Argentineans, and other religious people, that would immigrate to Maine
Except for New Years, Easter, and Christmas many of the Festivals that are observed or celebrated by Argentineans are not observed here in the United States. If the Argentinean people were to assimilate here then it would be very difficult for them to observe or celebrate their own festivals which are very important to their own religions. I feel that this is true to many religions because, the Unites States only observes a handful of Holiday's and employers are not willing to allow time for people to celebrate the days that are important to them religiously.
Another issue is that many people have the notion that Christianity and Catholicism are under the same church and they are not. Where the Pope is the head of the Catholic church there is no head of the Christian church other than Christ. This I have found, from talking to Catholics and Christians in Maine, is an issue because many people assume that the Catholic holiday's are the same as Christians and they are not.
What Can be Done?
1. Don't assume that one religion is above another
2. Don't assume that one religion is connected to another without doing some research
3. Be respectful of other's holidays and observances, if you don't know anything about them ask.
The company that I work for is quite flexible in accommodating holidays that do not coincide with the holidays provided by the company. Its difficult when you are apart of the minority to reap the benefits that majority does. Overall it is easier to cater to the group then it is to the individual. This is something that goes not just for religion or race but for everything.
ReplyDeleteinteresting information...i had very good friends growing up that were Argentenian and moved back after middle school. I have always wondered what the culture was like!
ReplyDeleteI like what you have to say here. I interned at a middle school this year and a student was referred to me because the student was having "truancy issues". Come to find out this student was absent to observe religious holidays.... but no one had taken the time to inquire about this before labeling him (and his parents)
ReplyDelete