The mention of all of the Spanish/Mexican missions is a little misleading. Yes, they had a religious component, but all of Spanish society did at the time. Mos

The mention of all of the Spanish/Mexican missions is a little misleading. Yes, they had a religious component, but all of Spanish society did at the time. Most of the missions were accompanied by settlers and military protection and/or "presidios" nearby. They were strategic initiatives by the state, which was intertwined with the Roman Catholic church at the time.