Protestantism
47% of the Texas population is Protestant. It's interesting, even fascinating, to see the paradoxical marriage of Christianity and oil in a city like Houston. Some describe it as "petro-islam", a neologism that refers to the union of oil wealth with a religious fundamentalism specific to Saudi Arabia and other neighboring states. Does Texas have more in common with the Middle East than with the Western world? Possibly. All this suggests is that religion and the Church are taking on a greater role than a simple cultural and historical tradition. We're talking about a political, economic and social system sustained by the presence of institutional religion. Ironically, while Protestant churches in Houston may serve as spiritual havens for millionaires, it's also Protestantism that takes a prominent place among the poorest, particularly in small rural farming towns or in neglected, predominantly African-American communities. There is a distressing demographic separation between churches colloquially referred to as "black" and "white" (although this is not officially determined). Rarely questioned, this separation is a legacy of earlier segregation. And this is often the case despite a shared religion, as these two "churches" do not have the same customs. Historically, the Protestant church came from the English and Germanic populations, with the first Protestant church established in Red River County. Today, Texas is home to the famous megachurches, where stadiums and shopping malls have been transformed into giant churches. Some of the best-known are Lakewood Church in Houston and The Potter's House in Dallas, some of which can accommodate up to 47,000 worshippers a week.
Catholicism
With around 28% of believers, the majority of Texas' Catholic population is of Latin American origin, with Catholic churches located in predominantly Hispanic areas of cities and towns. Historically, it was Spanish Catholic missionaries who first brought Christianity to Texas, via sites such as the Alamo in San Antonio. New Mexico, on the other hand, is different from Texas, with a majority of Catholic Christians. New Mexico contains several monasteries that can accommodate visitors, such as the Monastery of Christ in the Desert in Abiquiu, built in traditional adobe.
Minority religions
Indigenous populations had, and some still have, their own belief systems. There was no single predominant one, but multiple beliefs that were distorted by the televised media of the 20th century. There is no "holy book" or set of specific laws that all tribes followed. Unlike most religious systems in the world, native beliefs were not intrinsically linked to politics or economics. For a start, the very concept of religion as an organized structure is not really part of most Native American traditions. For them, the spiritual world is the same as the real world. Today, one of the traditions still practiced is that of pow-wows, where several Native American tribes travel to a geographical point to meet and perform rituals, with music and dance. One of the most important pow-wows is the Gathering of Nations, held in April in New Mexico. With regard to other religions or beliefs, between the 20th and 21st centuries there was an increase in the number of followers of Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism in Texas, often in the big cities, linked to migratory flows from Asia. We're also seeing a rise in atheism and agnosticism, concentrated in urban areas where education levels are higher and the Democratic population is more present. For example, Austin, the capital of Texas, is a largely Democratic city with a high rate of atheism. For the state as a whole, atheism represents up to 18% of the population.
Religion and politics
The imprint of this very large and strong presence of religion can be felt in political and social decisions. For example, the year 2022 declared the end of abortion rights in Texas, as in many other southern states, which is directly linked to religious beliefs and morality, as well as more implicitly to women's place in society. If you're driving through Texas, don't be surprised to see large roadside billboards with bizarre images of fetuses or Jesus, denouncing abortion as a crime. This conservatism is intimately linked to an anti-feminist politics, where the family pillar remains a sacred affair. These attitudes can be felt among Protestants and Catholics alike, in contrast to the atheist urban populations who vote Democrat.
