Re-Enchanting the World: Maya Protestantism in the Guatemalan Highlands (Contemporary American Indian Studies)

Christian evangelicals among native people in Latin America. What does it mean to be both Maya and Protestant in Guatemala? Burgeoning religious pluralism in Mesoamerica and throughout Latin America is evident as Protestantism permeates a region that had been overwhelmingly Catholic for nearly five centuries. In considering the interplay between contemporary Protestant practice and native cultural traditions among Maya evangelicals, Samson documents the processes whereby some Maya have converted to new forms of Christianity and the ways in which the Maya are incorporating Christianity for their own purposes. At the intersection of religion and cultural pluralism, contemporary evangelicals focus on easing the tension between Maya identity and the Protestant insistence that old ways must be left behind in the conversion process. Against the backdrop of the 36-year civil war that ended in 1996 and the rise of the indigenous Maya Movement in the late 1980s, this work provides a unique portrait of social movements, cultural and human rights, and the role that religion plays in relation to the nation-state in post-conflict political processes. Re-enchanting the World fills a niche within the anthropological literature on evangelicals in Latin America during a time of significant social change. This Book Is About Christian Evangelicals Among Native People In Latin America. What Does It Mean To Be Both Maya And Protestant In Guatemala? Burgeoning Religious Pluralism In Mesoamerica And Throughout Latin America Is Evident As Protestantism Permeates A Region That Had Been Overwhelmingly Catholic For Nearly Five Centuries. In Considering The Interplay Between Contemporary Protestant Practice And Native Cultural Traditions Among Maya Evangelicals, Samson Documents The Processes Whereby Some Maya Have Converted To New Forms Of Christianity And The Ways In Which The Maya Are Incorporating Christianity For Their Own Purposes. At The Intersection Of Religion And Cultural Pluralism, Contemporary Evangelicals Focus On Easing The Tension Between Maya Identity And The Protestant Insistence That Old Ways Must Be Left Behind In The Conversion Process. Against The Backdrop Of The 36-year Civil Way That Ended In 1996 And The Rise Of The Indigenous Maya Movement In The Late 1980s, This Work Provides A Unique Portrait Of Social Movements, Cultural And Human Rights, And The Role That Religion Plays In Relation To The Nation-state In Post-conflict Political Processes. Re-enchanting The World Fills A Niche Within The Anthropological Literature On Evangelicals In Latin America During A Time Of Significant Social Change. - Publisher. Prologue: Encountering Religious Change In Guatemala -- Re-enchanting The World : Identity And Religious Change -- A Humanistic Approach To A Post-conflict Society -- The National Context : War, Peace Accords, And The Maya Movement -- Maya Protestantism In Guatemala -- Identity In Word And Place : The Mam Presbytery -- An Activist Protestantism : The Kaqchikel Presbytery -- Conclusions: Contextualizing Maya Protestant Practice. C. Mathews Samson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [167]-188) And Index. In considering the interplay between contemporary Protestant practice and native cultural traditions among Maya evangelicals, this work documents the processes whereby some Maya have converted to different forms of Christianity and the ways in which the Maya are incorporating Christianity for their own purposes.