Gabriel Garcia Marquez grew up as a Catholic but his beliefs developed into that of an atheist as time passed. There are clear religious connotations throughout his works but the Catholic influence dwells more deeply than just one individual's literary work. The Catholic Church has deep roots in the societal workings of South American culture due to the invasion and ruling of the Spanish from the 1500s
.The Spanish introduced religion into the Colombian society through the establishment of Catholic institutions including dioceses of Cartagena and Santa Maria. After their independence from the Spanish, the Catholic religion still had a lasting effect on society. This lead to an overall protective and traditional way of life that is clearly depicted through works of literature that depict the era in Colombia.
Currently, Colombian identity is certainly influenced by Catholicism. During the 19th century, the government protected Catholicism through the implementation of laws and giving the church certain privileges including giving them control over education. Even though the current role of the church in state has died down, the influence is apparent due to a conservative traditional lifestyle and the numerous cathedrals towering over houses in almost every village.
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