What Do U.S. Latinos Believe? with Arlene Sánchez‑Walsh | Created In The Image of God 232

Ask what Latinos in the United States believe, and you’ll often hear quick answers: “mostly Catholic,” “becoming more evangelical,” “socially conservative but….” Arlene Sánchez‑Walsh has spent her career showing why those shortcuts miss the story. As a historian of Latino/a religion and author of Latino Pentecostal Identity, she has traced how faith, migration, race, class, and culture combine to produce a landscape where people can believe “nothing and everything” at once.In this episode, Arlene explains why religious identity among Latinos/as is best understood as fluid. Yes, many still identify with Christian traditions—but not all as Catholic, not all as evangelical, and not all as anything in particular. She highlights the growing number of secular and non‑affiliated Latinos/as, especially younger generations who reject labels like atheist or agnostic yet simply choose not to believe in the ways previous generations did. Her work explores what those shifts say about institutions, authority, and the search for meaning in a changing America.The conversation also touches on her recent writing about theological education for Latino/a communities—what was promised, what has actually happened, and whether current models are serving people well. Throughout, Arlene invites listeners to see both ethnic and religious identity as dynamic, evolving realities, and to approach Latino/a faith with more curiosity and fewer assumptions. For anyone interested in where the church is headed, how culture shapes belief, or why “Latino religion” can’t be reduced to one story, this episode offers clarity, nuance, and a wider frame. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Created in the Image of God at wadefransson.substack.com/subscribe