Katharine Davis

Chile has traditionally been a Catholic country, and almost 90% of the population continues to be at least nominally Catholic today.  Church and state were officially separated in 1925, but religion has helped to shape the policies and decisions of the government in matters ranging from the direct involvement of the Church during colonialism to the Pope’s arbitration of the Beagle Channel dispute in 1985 to the socially conservative policies that continue to exist today.  For centuries and particularly during the military dictatorship, the Catholic Church has played an interesting part in Chilean politics and society, but its future influence remains uncertain.

When I was signing up for classes at the University of Dar es Salaam, some of the required information came as something of a surprise. After name, age, address, and other similarly predictable personal facts, I was asked to select my religion. My options were Muslim, Christian, and Hindu, and the next blank allowed me to clarify my denomination. This experience, although minor, served as a reminder of the significance of religious ideas and affiliations in Tanzania. Religion constantly influences my surroundings and daily life at the University of Dar es Salaam, and differing beliefs exist as important social and cultural influences throughout Tanzania.