Christianity in Argentina

Argentina is the focus of our feature story for this edition of the magazine. The country, officially known as the Argentine Republic, shares the bulk of the Southern Cone of South America with Chile to the west. It is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentine is the second largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourth largest country in the Americas, and the eighth largest in the world.

           The capital and largest city is Buenos Aires, while the official language is Spanish. The country operates a Federal presidential constitutional republic with Alberto Fernandez as President and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner his Vice. Juan Luis Manzur is Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers and Sergio Massa President of the Chambers of Deputies. The upper legislative house is the Senate, while the lower house is called the Chamber of Deputies.

          Argentina has its roots in the Spanish colonization of the region from the 16^th Century. It became the successor state of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, a Spanish overseas viceroyalty founded in 1776. The declaration and fight for independence from 1810 to 1818 was followed by an extended civil war that lasted until 1861, culminating in the country’s reorganisation as a Federation. It thereafter enjoyed relative peace and stability, with several waves of European immigration, mainly Italians and Spaniards. This radically reshaped the country’s cultural and demographic outlook, with over 60% of the population having Italian ancestry.

         Most Argentines are either Roman Catholics or Atheists. However, a significant number of those who identify with the church do not practice the faith, though the institution has a strong influence on society and the government. The religious composition by percentage is Roman Catholicism (49%), Atheism (40%), Protestant (6%), Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and others (5%).

God’s Canvass in Argentina

         In general, Argentina has four main climate types: warm, moderate, arid and cold, all determined by the latitude, range in altitude, and relief features. Consequently, there is a wide range of biomes in the country, including subtropical rain forests, semi-arid and arid regions, temperate plains in the Pampas, and cold subantarctic in the south. Argentina is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, hosting the greatest ecosystem varieties – 15 continental zones, two marine zones, and the Antarctic region.

Fauna

        Argentina is home to some 400 species of mammals, including opossums, armadillos, rodents, bats, deer, tapirs, peccaries and carnivores. Prominent animals include big cats like the jaguar and puma, primates (howler monkey); and large reptiles such as crocodiles. The country has established several national parks to protect its unique wildlife. Some of the animals native to the country are shown below.

Flora

     More than 10% of the world’s flora varieties are found in Argentina. The magnificent grasslands have figured prominently in the development of the country’s world-famous cattle industry. Evergreen beeches and Parana pine are common. From ‘yerba mate’ comes the national drink immortalized in gaucho literature, while the shade-providing ‘ombu’ is a national symbol. Pictures of some unique Argentine plant life are presented below.

Sea Life

 The windswept shores of Argentina’s Valdes Peninsula are home to many marine mammals, notably southern elephant seals and sea lions. Two of the animals are shown below.

Beaches in Argentina

Culture

         The culture and traditions of Argentina are a unique blend of Latin American indigenous traditions and European customs. While Spain gained an early foothold in the country, Italian immigration in the 19^th Century added a Mediterranean flair to the culture, especially the cuisine.

Worldwide, Argentina is probably most famous for the invention of the tango. The dance, originating in Buenos Aires in the 19^th Century, blends European, Caribbean and African influences. While it was quite the craze when it first burst onto the scene, authorities considered it a moral threat due to the sensual nature of its moves.

Traditional Attire

        Argentina is a modern country with cosmopolitan urban areas, so most people wear modern and trendy attires. However, there are some traditional clothing items in Argentinian culture that set it apart, including the cowboy costume worn by gauchos and woollen ponchos in a wide variety of colours and patterns.

Argentinians are also fond of wide-brimmed hats to protect their face and eyes from sunlight, and traditional footwear called alpargatas. These are made from colourful patterned canvas with rope or rubber soles. Some of the traditional attires are presented below.

Cuisine  

       Argentinian cuisine relies heavily on ‘asado’, which refers to both barbecued meats and the social events centred on them. Considerable cattle ranching in the country provides a variety of cuts for inspired cooking techniques. Nothing finishes off a savoury meat-based meal like a dessert made with Dulce de Leche, a sweet spread made from milk and sugar that is similar to a smooth creamy caramel. As for beverages, Argentina is a source of world-class wines, specifically Malbec, which boasts a spicy berry-flavour due to the smaller grapes that grow in tight clusters. Some prominent dishes from the country are shown below.

Status of Christianity in Argentina

          Religion has played a significant role in social and political life throughout Argentinian history. Roman Catholicism is particularly culturally pervasive and continues to be the official religion of the state. While approximately 92% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic, less than 20% are actively practising the faith.

Roman Catholicism was introduced into the country by Jesuit missionaries from Spain in the 17^th Century. Catholicism is interwoven in the public life of the country. Indeed, it is common to see religious symbols such as crucifixes and churches everywhere in Argentina. However, the older generation tends to be more connected to the church than the youth, particularly regarding church attendance. The incumbent Pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as ‘Francis’ is from Argentina.

          There are however, indications that the influence of Roman Catholicism is waning in the country. Conversely, the Protestant population is on the increase. It is pertinent to note that the distribution of practising Catholics and Protestants varies significantly by socioeconomic status. Many Argentines who identify as Protestant are people from lower-income groups within the society. These people feel disconnected from the Catholic Church.

         Despite the rise of Evangelism in Argentina, the country is becoming more liberal and less religious. In January 2021, it became the largest country in Latin America to legalize abortion. The bill signed into law allows women to terminate pregnancies for any reason up to 14 weeks. It also makes abortion free in public hospitals. This is a manifestation of the darkness that pervades the country, resulting from the polluting influence of Roman Catholicism.

Consequently, Biblically-faithful evangelism, discipleship, and church planting are desperately needed to bring hope to the nation and support its local believers. There is also the need to pray for God’s intervention to save innocent infants that have been sentenced to death by the Argentine government, in addition to praying for the salvation of unsaved souls.

Prayer Points 

1. Pray that God, the LORD of the harvest would send workers into His harvest in Argentina.
2. Ask the Father to baptise those called into ministry with the Holy Spirit for effective ministry of the word and prayer.
3. Pray that Christian organizations in Argentina will focus on empowerment by the Holy Spirit and less on the study of theology. Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to build His church; not theological institutions or seminaries.
4. Pray that God would destroy the faulty spiritual foundations laid in the lives of Argentinian people by the Roman Catholic Church and cause them to accept only Biblical Christianity.
5. Ask the Father to judge all demonic principalities and powers operating in the country and set their captives free.
6. Pray that God would remove the blindfold of darkness from the hearts and minds of unbelievers in the country, especially people who doubt His existence.
7. Ask the Father to purge Christian believers of worldliness and pollutions from all false religions.
8. Pray that God would sanctify Christian believers with His word and empower them by His Spirit to be living epistles that can be read by all men.

Intercession Checklist

1. Select a town, region or city from the political map of Argentina provided in the article for focused prayer.
2. Stand on the authority of Scripture, especially Psalm 2:8 to claim Argentina for Christ. Remind the Father that He said to the Messiah in the cited Scripture, “Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession”.

Additional materials sourced from https://www.en.m.wikipedia.org; https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com; https://www.puertolaboca.com; https://www.culturalatlas.com.au; https://www.abwe.org