Mad Jesus : The Final Testament of a Huichol Messiah From Northwest Mexico

This is the story of an anthropologist's encounter with a Huichol Indian known as "Mad Jesus." Jesús was an artisan, a shaman, a self-styled prophet, a mad messiah, and a murderous mystic. Timothy J. Knab was a young anthropologist soliciting life histories from Huichols in Mexico City when they met. The life story of Jesús may have been the ravings of a madman, but it also embodied the Huichol anticipation of the return of Santo Cristo, the savior who will restore the Huichol to their place as masters of the world around them. Neither Knab's studies in anthropology nor his experiences in the world of counterculture prepared him to understand this strange Indian and his violent history and behavior. A narrative of frightening encounters with a charismatic deviant, the tale culminates in the quest to discover what really happened when Jesús was killed in a police shootout thirty years after Knab's last disturbing confrontation with him. The book provides an overview of the Huichol and the plight of Mesoamerican Indians. It also sheds light on traditional religion, indigenous Catholicism, messianic cults, urbanization, and indigenous conflicts with the modern Mexican state. "The subject is fascinating and Knab's technique of phrasing it in the form of ethnographic fiction will, I think, be welcomed by specialists. . . . it tells an unknown or little-known story that illustrates the conflicts and strains of acculturation, and does it in very readable form."--Peter Furst, author of __Flesh of the Gods: The Ritual Use of Hallucinogens__ and co-author of __People of the Peyote: Huichol Indian History, Religion, and Survival__ (UNM Press). This Narrative Of Frightening Encounters With A Charismatic Deviant Is A Dramatic Account Of Anthropological Fieldwork. It Culminates In The Quest To Discover What Really Happened When Jesus Was Killed In A Police Shootout Some Thirty Years After Knab's Last Disturbing Confrontation With Him. The Book Not Only Provides An Overview Of The Huichol And The Plight Of Mesoamerican Indians But Also Sheds Light On Traditional Religion, Indigenous Catholicism, Messianic Cults, Urbanization, And Indigenous Conflicts With The Modern Mexican State.--book Jacket. Pt. I. Mad Jesus: Santo Cristo. True Jesus -- Color Against The Sky -- Huicholand -- A Proposition -- La Plaza De La Veracruz -- Jesus: Santo Cristo -- Aftermath -- Little Jesus Of The Peyotes -- The Magical Way To Peyoteland -- Intimations Of The Evil One -- Fathers And Forefathers -- To Teakata: The Center Of The World -- At The Earth's Axis -- The Journey To Madness -- Return From Darkness -- Vengeance -- Drunken Dervish -- Crazy Kieli -- Enchanted Music And Madness -- A Chalice Of Blood -- Song Of Evil -- Pt. Ii. The Gospel Of Mad Jesus. The Other World -- Into The World -- The Coast -- A Teacher -- The Mothers' Land -- Salve María -- The Cult Of Santo Cristo -- The Apostles -- A Brother's Tale -- Guadalajara Madness -- English Enrique -- Dark City Lights -- Pt. Iii. Resurrecting Jesus. The Death Of Jesus -- File Of The Dead -- Tracing The Path Of Jesus -- White Rocks -- San Isidro -- Guadalajara -- Holy, Holy Madness. Timothy J. Knab. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 272-276) And Index. Front Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 7 Map of Mexico 9 Part I: Mad Jesus: Santo Cristo 10 1: True Jesus 12 2: Color Against the Sky 14 3: Huicholand 20 4: A Proposition 31 5: La Plaza de la Veracruz 34 6: Jesus: Santo Cristo 43 7: Aftermath 50 8: Little Jesus of the Peyotes 55 9: The Magical Way to Peyoteland 61 10: Intimations of the “Evil One” 66 11: Fathers and Forefathers 71 12: To Teakata: The Center of the World 74 13: At the Earth’s Axis 81 14: The Journey to Madness 86 15: Return from Darkness 91 16: Vengeance 96 17: Drunken Dervish 102 18: Crazy Kieli 108 19: Enchanted Music and Madness 114 20: A Chalice of Blood 121 21: Song of Evil 131 Part II: The Gospel of Mad Jesus 136 22: The Other World 138 23: Into the World 142 24: The Coast 148 25: A Teacher 153 26: The Mothers’ Land 158 27: Salve María 166 28: The Cult of Santo Cristo 171 29: The Apostles 180 30: A Brother’s Tale 194 31: Guadalajara Madness 201 32: English Enrique 208 33: Dark City Lights 211 Part III: Resurrecting Jesus 220 34: The Death of Jesus 222 35: File of the Dead 230 36: Tracing the Path of Jesus 238 37: White Rocks 247 38: San Isidro 252 39: Guadalajara 258 40: Holy, Holy Madness 264 Afterword 267 Glossary 270 Notes 278 Bibliography 281 Selected Readings on the Huichol 284 Index 286 Back Cover 289