Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Religion
Although Nicaragua's majority religion is Catholic (about 59% of the population identifies
as such), Nicaraguan Catholicism retains many indigenous elements, as the decor and cere-
monies of churches such as San Juan Bautista de Subtiava and Masaya's María Magdelena
make clear. Liberation theology also made its mark on Nicaraguan Catholicism, influen-
cing priest and poet Ernesto Cardenal to advocate armed resistance to the Somoza dictator-
ship. Publicly chastised and later defrocked by Pope John Paul II, Cardenal remains a be-
loved religious leader. Nicaragua's incredible selection of Catholic churches and fascinat-
ing
fiestas patronales
remain highlights of the country.
On the Atlantic coast, Moravian missionaries from Germany began arriving in the early
1800s, and today their red-and-white wooden churches are the centerpieces of many Creole
and Miskito towns. More recently, over 100 Protestant sects, most US-based and collect-
ively referred to as
evangelistas,
have converted at least 21% of the population; in fact,
many of the foreigners you'll meet in rural Nicaragua are missionaries, who may try to
convert you too.
Perhaps most interesting, nearly 16% of Nicaraguans say they are atheist or agnostic, un-
usual in Latin America and a huge relief if you're one too.
