Undesirable faiths: State and social regulation of Argentina's religious economy

ALEJANDRO FRIGERIO

Washington

Congreso; LASA Annual Meeting 2013; 2013

Latin American Studies Association

The paper reviews the variety of (sometimes contradictory) processes affecting religion in Argentina today. It suggests that the advancement of religious diversity in the country does not necessarily entail increasing pluralism (since, following James Beckford, this would mean the appreciation of this variety) but can, to the contrary, cause increased social resistance to new religious practices and ideas. A realistic appraisal of religious pluralism should take into account the degree of social as well as government regulation of religion. The paper emphasizes the expanding role of different secular agents in the control of religious ideas and practices -with particular attention to the mass media- and suggests that State control is mostly enforced through bureaucratic means.