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Christianity in Cuba has played an important role in Cuba's history. Cuba was discovered by Christopher Columbus a few days after he arrived to the New World in 1492. In 1511, colonization began when the Conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar established the Catholic Church in Cuba with the early priest Fray Bartolomé de las Casas known commonly as "the Protector of the Indians".〔Ramos, Marcos A. ''Protestantism and Revolution in Cuba''. Miami: University of Miami, 1989. 19〕 Along with Catholicism, Protestantism came during the same time. Catholicism was established early while Protestantism came later. "Protestantism did not permanently take hold in Cuba until the nineteenth century, though since the sixteenth century the country had been constantly visited by pirates, corsairs and filibusters, many of whom were Protestants".〔Ramos, Marcos A. ''Protestantism and Revolution in Cuba''. Miami: University of Miami, 1989. 20〕 In Cuba, the roots of Protestantism occurred around the same time as Christianity. The denominations of Catholicism and Protestantism have a significant influence in Cuban history. ==Catholicism in Cuba during the colonial period 1498–1898== In 1512, Roman Catholicism came to Cuba with the Dominicans being the first Catholic priests and the Franciscans coming years later. The indigenous people were murdered as early as 1516: the bishop at the time Fray Bernardo de Mesa used lunar cycles and geographical situation as the reasoning for slavery of the Indians.〔Kirk, John M. ''Between God and the party: religion and politics in revolutionary Cuba''. Tampa: University of South Florida Press, 1989. 4〕 Eventually the Indigenous Cubans were killed off with many Cubans being descendents of Spanish and African origin. Originally Catholicism catered to the Spanish because the Native Amerindians were killed as opposed to being converted.〔Melton, J. Gordon, and Clifton L. Holland. "Cuba." ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices''. Ed. J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2010. 833〕 Pope Leo X (r. 1513-1521) established the Diocese of Baracoa, which included "all of Cuba" and the Spanish possessions of Louisiana and Florida. The name was changed to the Diocese of Santiago de Cuba in 1522.〔 Catholicism during this period was important because of the engagement in various aspects of life: baptisms, marriages, and funerals. The church fought the buccaneers and combated immorality.〔Perez, Louis, Luis Martinez-Fern, D. H. Figueredo. "Advisory Board." ''Encyclopedia of Cuba: People, History, Culture''. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2003. 508〕 Authority of bishops during the colonial period compared to the highest civilian and military authority on the island; Schools and institutions of higher learning were created and administered by Church authorities.〔 Some of the bishops who were involved in education at this time were Bishop Jerónimo de Valdés (1705–29) and Bishop Pedro Agustín Morell de Santa Cruz (1753–68); the Royal and Pontifical University of Saint Jerome of Havana was inaugurated during Valdes' tenure in 1724.〔Kirk, John M. ''Between God and the party: religion and politics in revolutionary Cuba''. Tampa: University of South Florida Press, 1989. 11〕 Throughout the Cuban island, the schools of San Ambrosio and San Francisco de Salles in Havana were established by the church from donations and an increase in church revenue.〔Perez, Louis, Luis Martinez-Fern, D. H. Figueredo. "Advisory Board." ''Encyclopedia of Cuba: People, History, Culture''. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2003. 74〕 The Catholic Church was pivotal in establishing education as a central pillar of Cuban nationality:
Aside from education, the Catholic Church made other contributions throughout its early years in Cuba. Many historians consider the Golden Age – years 1750 to 1850 – to be of tremendous importance.〔〔Kirk, John M. ''Between God and the party: religion and politics in revolutionary Cuba''. Tampa: University of South Florida Press, 1989. 12〕 This period was significant in one aspect because of the increase of clergy. The Catholic Church's golden age in Cuba began with the tenure of Bishop Diego Evelino Hurtado de Compostela along with the first diocesan synod of 1680.〔 The powerful influence in culture and politics, increase of native clergy, along with the multiplication of church building and seminaries marked the golden age.〔 The diversity of the church characterized the golden years. Of the 90 churches in Cuba at this time, half of them were headed by Native Cuban priests.〔Kirk, John M. ''Between God and the party: religion and politics in revolutionary Cuba''. Tampa: University of South Florida Press, 1989. 1-172. 12〕 The Church was accepted in the urban centers because prior to this time the Spanish had used religion as a tool to influence the local Indians for the acquisition of wealth.〔Kirk, John M. ''Between God and the party: religion and politics in revolutionary Cuba''. Tampa: University of South Florida Press, 1989. 9〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Christianity in Cuba」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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