Christianity In Latin America

The presence of Christianity in the Portuguese Latin American colonies was minuscule during the nascent stages of colonization. The Portuguese kingdoms often only sent two to three friars or priests on the ships traveling to the colonies. The indigenous people that were encountered were perceived to be blank slates. This perception of the indigenous was held to justify spreading Christianity. In Latin America, the colonizers and priests held on to their own agenda for the colonies. These agendas were not similar, and it contributes to understanding the motives and the roles of the priests in the Latin American colonies. In the 17th century, Brazil was one of the largest slave economies in Latin America. When the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, the population of Indigenous people decreased. The lack of indigenous lead the Portuguese to seek out slaves from …show more content…
Due to the malnutrition and the detrimental conditions of cane production, the slave population in Brazil was not self-reproducing. Although slaves had a short lifespan in the colonies, the Portuguese had an abundance of slaves. The Portuguese slave owners did not seem to care for the salvation of the slaves of their conversion to Christianity. Portuguese priest, Padre Antônio Vieira, held the objective to implement “universal church and an apostolic mission to convert non-Christians to the faith.” The lifespan of the slaves were not long enough for Padre Antônio Vieira to embark on his mission. The sermon titled “Twenty-Seventh Sermon, with the Most Holy Sacrament Present,” highlights the motives of Padre Vieira. These motives were to convert the slaves. Padre Vieira states “But as to your slaves’ souls, how could you also sell them, placing the golden idols of your cursed and always faulty interests ahead of their salvation.” This statement was