A Saint for Lost Souls-(Death Cult)

foreignpolicy ^ | MAY/JUNE 2010 | BY D.E. CAMPBELL

[Flavius]

The barrio of Tepito, where it's said that everything is for sale except dignity, has been one of Mexico City's roughest neighborhoods since Aztec times. Famous for its black market and its boxing champions, Tepito is a place where residents learn to fight early and fight hard. These days it has also become the epicenter of Mexico's fastest-growing faith: Santa Muerte, or Holy Death, a hybrid religion that merges Catholic symbolism with pre-Hispanic worship of the skeletal Mictlantecuhtli and Mictlancihuatl, Lord and Lady of the Dead.

[Touch Not the Cat]

.
Simply horrible.

[Mmogamer]

What does Rome think about all this?

[Touch Not the Cat]

.
I think he’s on the air right now — give him a call?

[ARA]

Just read the article... Scary and no doubt creeping into So Cal and the west...

[freekitty]

Why don’t these Mexicans stand up and fight their opressors?

[apillar]

They had a story about this in a recent National Geographic magazine. Very strange religion, they seem to actually worship the grim reaper. The religion is really exploding in Mexico and is by far the fastest growing religion and no one really knows were it came from, it just sort of appeared a few years ago.

[elcid1970]

This is the Devil at work and in demonic manifestation.

Mexican Christianity was once the devoutest on earth.

Our Lady of Guadalupe will aid all who call upon her intercession.

(Please, no talk of harmless mixing of Christianity with local superstitions like Camdomble, Santeria, or Vodun. This is far, far worse.)

[LongElegantLegs]

They started carrying those religious candles with sante/a? muerte on the front at the corner grocery store...Creepy stuff.

[RichInOC]

:-D )))

Not that Rome.

[Marechal]

Strikes me as similar in context to Hindu Kali worship.