Abstract

VALENZUELA, Erika  and  ODGERS, Olga. Social usages of religion against violence: Catholics, Evangelists and Jehovah's witnesses in Tijuana, Mexico. Culturales [online]. 2014, vol.2, n.2, pp.9-40. ISSN 2448-539X.

On the basis of the experience of Catholics, Evangelists and Jehovah's Witnesses living in the border city of Tijuana, the authors analyze the way beliefs, rituals, and religious communities and institutions do or do not become a key resource for dealing with experiences of violence in a context of rapidly increasing insecurity. They conclude that although religious beliefs occupy an important place in the construction of the interpretation of violence in all three cases, among Catholics, this interpretation coexists with social arguments. Evangelists express greater interest in political participation to stop insecurity, while the eschatological perspective of Jehovah's Witnesses is essential and invalidates any action against violence, which is perceived with resignation, as an inevitable sign of the end of times.

Keywords : religion; violence; theodicy; rituality; Tijuana.

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