Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Friday 31 January 2020
Bible vs indigenous beliefs at issue in Bolivia

By BRADY McCOMBS especially for those of us
Associated Press here in the oriental region
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Hoist- that don't believe in the Pa-
ing a large leather Bible chamama."
above her head, Bolivia's Sentiments like that pro-
new interim president de- voke strong reaction from
livered an emphatic mes- Bolivians who embrace
sage hours after Evo Mo- their Incan heritage. They
rales fled under pressure, fear that the discrimina-
the end of a nearly 14-year tion they felt under previ-
presidency that celebrat- ous presidents of European
ed the country's indigenous descent will return to this
religious beliefs like never South American country of
before. 11 million people situated
"The Bible has returned between Peru, Chile, Brazil
to the palace," bellowed and Argentina.
Jeanine Añez as she Añez will likely only hold the
walked into the presiden- office until May 3, when
tial palace where Morales the country holds another
had jettisoned the bible election, but critics say she
from official government In this picture taken Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, a Christ statue overlooks El Alto, a city adjoining the represents Bolivian arche-
ceremonies and replaced capital city La Paz, Bolivia. type that flourished before
with acts honoring the An- Associated Press Morales became the na-
dean earth deity called than double their size in tion's first indigenous presi-
the Pachamama. The con- 1970, according to a self- dent in 2006.
servative evangelical sena- reported membership fig- Morales commonly railed
tor, from a region where ures compiled by the World against what he consid-
people often scoff at Pa- Christian Database. ered discrimination that
chamama beliefs, thrust "It doesn't seem like Añez dated back to the Spanish
the Bible above her head understands that we exist," conquest in 1520, describ-
and flashed a beaming Condori said. ing his presidency as the
smile. For many upper-class con- "decolonization" of Bolivia.
While Bolivians of all walks servatives in the capital Morales revamped the Bo-
of life are deeply divided of La Paz, and in outlying livian constitution in 2009 to
on Morales' legacy, his re- provinces where people make the country a secular
placement, a lawyer and grew tired of Morales' state, stripping special rec-
opposition leader who heavy-handed campaign ognition previously given to
wants to make the Bible to increase visibility and the Catholic church. None
front and center in public In this Nov. 12, 2019, AP file photo, the Senate's second vice prominence of the indige- of the presidential candi-
life, is reigniting deep-root- president and opposition politician Jeanine Añez, center, wear- nous religious beliefs, Añez's dates for the May election
ing the presidential sash and carrying a Bible, addresses the
ed class and racial divisions crowd from the balcony of the Quemado palace after she de- reintroduction of the Bible is mentioned rolling back
at a time of great uncer- clared herself interim president of the country, in La Paz, Bolivia. being celebrated. Morales' changes to the
tainty in the Andean na- Associated Press "It was a demonstration of constitution.
tion, where 6 in 10 identify grand respect for Bolivian Añez declined to be inter-
as descendants of native a Catholic priest splashed Condori said the same people. We are believers viewed by The Associated
peoples. their relics with holy water. type of relationship doesn't in God," said Karina Ortiz Press but told a Bolivian
"It's the same as 500 years Just feet away from the exist with evangelicals, Justiniano, a psychologist newspaper in December
ago when the Spanish church in a bustling plaza, who tend to take a hard- from the province of Beni that she will respect indig-
came and the first thing parishioners stopped to line against mixing beliefs where Añez resides. "The enous beliefs. But she said
they showed the indige- have their dolls blessed by and account for about 7% government of Evo Morales if Christians like her had to
nous people was the Bible," indigenous elders wearing of the population, more was way too aggressive, endure the Bible being tak-
said Jose Saravia, a civil their customary poncho en out of the presidential
engineer from La Paz. "It sweaters and wool stocking palace, now others should
seems to me like the same hats in an act Bolivians be- respect her devotion to
thing is happening again." lieve shows respect for Pa- God. Edwin Sanchez Man-
Like many in Bolivia, Saravia chamama and bring bless- silla, who owns a shop in
is a practicing Catholic who ings in return. The men rang La Paz called "Question of
weaves in Pachamama tiny bells as they placed Faith," to repair religious
beliefs passed down from the dolls in incense smoke relics, said Añez' celebra-
this parents and grandpar- billowing from small pots tion of the Bible returning
ents. About 8 in 10 in Bolivia full of hot coals and special ignited a spike in business
are Catholic, according to herbs, many ending the as people felt compelled
the most recent estimates. act with a sign of the cross to connect to their religious
Saravia and his family were and a kiss of a small cross. roots. He said he's not wor-
among droves of people A symbiotic relationship ried that Bolivia will lose its
who came carrying their has emerged over time. It indigenous culture.
immaculately dressed allows Catholics and Pa- "We've had these customs
baby Jesus dolls to fill a mas- chamama believers to In this picture taken Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, spiritual indigenous for a long time, Evo Morales
sive Catholic church in La maintain both systems, said guides perform traditional blessings on baby Jesus dolls after didn't invent them," Mansil-
Paz to participate in Three Mariano Condori Flores, parishioners leave the Three Kings Day Mass outside the San la said. "With or without Evo,
Kings Day masses Jan. 6. As one of the indigenous Francisco Church in La Paz, Bolivia. we'll continue. We have
they slowly left the church, guides doing the blessings. Associated Press strong roots."q