“Us and Them”: Religious Diversity in an Urban District Context

Abstract

Through an exploratory study in Greater Buenos Aires, the author, by means of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, provides a knowledge and understanding of the attitudes shown by “us” (local residents who might or might not be involved in religious organizations), towards “them” (believers, or those with some commitment, who come into the area to participate in religious activities or otherwise demonstrate their faith). The perception and assessment of these incomers by residents to a large extent determines the former's admittance, conditional acceptance or rejection by the host society, for such impressions are based upon prejudices which generate intolerance, or conversely which promote the establishment of tolerant, pluralist attitudes. The author suggests that closed or open religious organizations mirror the predominance of attitudes of exclusion or of openness and acceptance of diversity, respectively.