User:Marianacalrojas/Religion in Mexico sandbox

Introduction:
Mexico is a country with very rich culture. One of the many different forms of culture that are explored in Mexican culture is religion. Religion plays a very important role in Mexican culture.There is a very large melting pot of religion in Mexico, however the main religion practiced in Mexico is Christianity. Christianity is not only a religion in Mexico, but it finds itself woven throughout the history of Mexico and is still ever growing to this day.

Christianity in Mexico:
The dominant religion in Mexico is Christianity. Catholicism was introduced to Mexico in the 16th century. This religion teaches God as the Holy Trinity which translates to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three elements are what make up the Holy Trinity which is the foundation of Christianity. The religion has integrated itself into the culture of Mexico. There are many saying in Mexico that are intertwined with the religion of Christianity. For example there is "Si Dios quiere" which translates to God willing and "Gracias a Dios" which means thank God. Religion, especially Christianity in Mexico has integrated itself into the every day life of the people of Mexico. It is not only a religion to them, but a part of their identity and history. It is estimated that almost 80% of the population in Mexico identifies as practicing Catholicism. In Mexico, the culture of religion is very different than in other parts around the world. Mexicans who identify as catholic are very proud of their religion ad see it as a part of their identity. They compare it to their cultural heritage, something that is passed on through the generations of the family. Although Mexicans are very proud of their christianity, many of them do not attend church consistently once a week. Along with Christianity, there are many different churches of Christianity that are growing and Mexicans are very welcoming and tolerant of these churches. Pentecostal Christians, Evangelical Christians, and Jehovah's Witnesses are all every growing in the Mexican community. They are welcomed into the community and it creates a very welcoming community of religion which may be why Mexico is so diverse when it comes to religion.

Customs in Mexico
There are many traditions that Mexicans follow in their day to day life to pay homage to their Religion. For example when they pass by a church or hear an ambulance siren, they will usually make the sign of the cross. Mexicans will usually mark their most significant life moments by Christian moments such as baptism, first, communion, confirmation, and marriage. I n Mexico, religion is not a separate entity to one's personal life. They both work together to form majority of the Mexican culture.

Buddhism in Mexico
The other religions are considered minority religions. Buddhism is a minority religion in Mexico but still has a number of followers. It is estimated that there are around 100,000 followers of Buddhism in Mexico. The essential idea of Buddhism is the human life is one of suffering. The one goal of Buddhism is to reach nirvana, or total enlightenment and be free from our suffering. In Mexico, there is Casa Tibet México which is in Mexico City. It was built as a way for the Buddhist in Mexico to practice their religion and preserve Tibetan culture.

Hinduism in Mexico
Hinduism is also a minority religion in Mexico. There is an estimated 12,000 Hindus in Mexico. Most Hindus in the country of Mexico are business men who work with each other. The main belief of Hinduism is that they view everything in the universe as God. Hindus believe that each person is divine and the purpose of their life is to realize how special and divine all humans are. They have helped to create a stronger relationship between India and Mexico. Most Hindus speak the Spanish language and have conformed to their government. In Mexico, there is the Sai Baba temple and a Vaishnav temple that has been constructed for the Hindus to conduct their ministry and worship.

Judaism in Mexico
The Jewish population in Mexico currently consists of those who have came from immigrants between the 19th and 20th centuries. The community has very strong roots in Mexico and has few problems in the host country. The Jewish community in Mexico is still divided with its own religions and social and cultural institutions. There are some clashes between the Jewish people and the other religions but these are usually solved peacefully. The Jews in Mexico are less than the number of Jews in the United States and Canada. Jewish immigrants started a number of social organizations to help the immigrant community adapt to life in Mexico and still conserve their culture and heritage.

Religious Freedom in Mexico
The constitution of Mexico provides all people with the right to religious freedom. This gives people the right to be able to worship their religion freely without facing discrimination. Mexico is aware that as a country, they have a very diverse population of different religions and they do not try and turn away these religions. People who come from other countries to Mexico are welcomed and are not shunned away because they practice a different religion other than the dominant one. Mexico is a culmination of many different religions all of which make up the different cultures and identities that are seen in Mexico.