Territorial Displacement and Spiritual Transformation in an Andean Community

Gutiérrez-Gómez E.; Sánchez-Ortiz K.M.; González-Ríos R.C.; Munaris-Parco S.B. · Desde el Sur (2026) · DOI: 10.21142/des-1803-2026-0076

Resumen

The internal armed conflict in Peru forced the displacement of Andean communities, transforming their social organization and spiritual life. This qualitative, ethnographic study focused on a Quechua-speaking community from the southern highlands, displaced between 1980 and 1990. The objective was to understand how territorial uprooting influenced the transformation of devotional practices and symbols of religiosity. Participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis were used to explore the meanings attributed to the new spirituality. The findings reveal a process of re-signifying faith: the villagers adopted a new Patron Saint as a symbol of unity in the face of the loss of their traditional cult. Despite the trauma, the community rebuilt its spiritual identity, adapting its religiosity to new realities. Furthermore, a process of integration emerged with another town, which also embraced the faith of the displaced, strengthening bonds and consolidating a shared religious identity.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Huanta