In most Latin American countries, religion has played a determining role in shaping culture, society, politics, economy and history. Religion has permeated social and political relations, culture, laws, institutions, ethics, education, and social exclusion.

During the last five millennia, polytheistic and monotheistic religions have influenced the configuration of historical-social formations in the world, and have attempted to respond to the great cosmogonic and anthropological questions of humanity. Particularly for the past 17 centuries, Christianity and Islam, through expansion and conquest, often violently, have shaped countless societies worldwide.

The first chair in the history of religions was created at the University of Leiden, Netherlands, in 1876.
Latin American universities, unlike the main universities in the world, have failed to integrate critical studies of religion into their teaching and research agendas, both from the point of view of a broad academic debate, as well as high-level university education and research.

The Latin American Postgraduate Program in History of Religions (PPHR) focuses on the centuries-old relations of power, domination and control in Latin America, from the perspective of the Political Economy of social formations and the State, and of the Social Sciences and Philosophy.

The object of study of the PPHR are the interrelationships between science, culture, society, economy, politics, the state and religion.