New Worlds: A Religious History of Latin America - Hardcover

Lynch, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 030016680X ISBN 13: 9780300166804

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2012

Synopsis

A brilliant capstone work that analyzes the entire history of Latin America's reception of Christianity

This extraordinary book encompasses the time period from the first Christian evangelists' arrival in Latin America to the dictators of the late twentieth century. With unsurpassed knowledge of Latin American history, John Lynch sets out to explore the reception of Christianity by native peoples and how it influenced their social and religious lives as the centuries passed. As attentive to modern times as to the colonial period, Lynch also explores the extent to which Indian religion and ancestral ways survived within the new Christian culture.

The book follows the development of religious culture over time by focusing on peak periods of change: the response of religion to the Enlightenment, the emergence of the Church from the wars of independence, the Romanization of Latin American religion as the papacy overtook the Spanish crown in effective control of the Church, the growing challenge of liberalism and the secular state, and in the twentieth century, military dictators' assaults on human rights. Throughout the narrative, Lynch develops a number of special themes and topics. Among these are the Spanish struggle for justice for Indians, the Church's position on slavery, the concept of popular religion as distinct from official religion, and the development of liberation theology.

About this title

About the Author

John Lynch is Emeritus Professor of Latin American History and former director of the Institute of Latin American Studies, University of London. He is the author of more than a dozen books on Latin American topics. He lives in London.

Review

“Trenchant and mature . . . a wonderfully realized account . . . a superb retelling of a story that needs to be studied.”—Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)

“John Lynch has furnished an important and intricate piece of the puzzle of the story of global Christianity. . . . He practices history at its best. . . . For many years to come New Worlds should stand as a key reference point.”—Kenneth P. Serbin, Christian Century (Kenneth P. Serbin Christian Century)

“A masterly, in-depth study of religion in its many forms in Latin America.”—Jeffrey Klaiber S.J., America (Jeffrey Klaiber S.J. America)

Edition details

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 030016680X
• ISBN 13: 9780300166804
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 424