Religion Without Redemption: Social Contradictions and Awakened Dreams in Latin America (Decolonial Studies, Postcolonial Horizons)

Latin America has been a place of radical political inspiration providing an alternative to the neoliberal model. Religion without Redemption looks at the sociology of religion, political philosophy and the history of ideas of the continent, in an attempt to show how Western understanding fails to come close to a correct analysis of how and why political and economic characteristics work as they do. It focuses on how the centrality of religion for the people of Latin America has influenced how they interact with the changes in the modern economic system. Capitalism has taken on religious characteristics: it has sacred places of worship, such as the shopping mall, as well as its own prophets. This book explains how this form of ‘cultural religion’ accompanies many aspects of life in a contradictory manner: not only does it fulfil the role of legitimating oppression, it also can be a powerful source of rebellion, unveiling thus a subversive side to the status quo. Religion Without Redemption advances the ideas of liberation theory into the 21st century, and challenges the provincialism to which many Latin American thinkers are usually consigned. The World's Eyes Are On Latin America As A Place Of Radical Political Inspiration And As An Alternative To The Neoliberal Model. Each Country In The Region Deals Differently In Its Method Of Government, Yet There Are Common Cultural Themes That Tie The Continent's Trajectory Together. Religion Without Redemption Looks At The Sociology Of Religion, Political Philosophy And The History Of Ideas Of The Continent, In An Attempt To Show How Western Understanding Fails To Come Close To A Correct Analysis Of How And Why Political And Economic Characteristics Work As They Do. Luis Martínez Andrade Focuses On How The Centrality Of Religion For The People Of Latin America Has Influenced How They Interact With The Changes In The Modern Economic System. Capitalism, For Example, Has Taken On Religious Characteristics: It Has Sacred Places Of Worship (the Shopping Mall) As Well As Its Own Prophets. Martínez Andrade Discusses How This Form Of 'cultural Religion' Accompanies Many Aspects Of Life In A Contradictory Manner: Not Only Does It Fulfil The Role Of Legitimating Oppression, It Also Can Be A Powerful Source Of Rebellion, Unveiling Thus A Subversive Side To The Status Quo. Religion Without Redemption Advances The Ideas Of Liberation Theory Into The 21st Century, And Challenges The Provincialism To Which Many Latin American Thinkers Are Usually Consigned. --provided By Publisher. Entelechies And Cathedrals -- Utopias And Liberation. Luis Martínez Andrade ; Translated By Antonio Carmona Báez ; Foreword By Michael Löwy. Translation Of: Religión Sin Redención : Contradicciones Sociales Y Sueños Despiertos En America Latina. Segunda Edición. Zacatecas, Zacatecas : Taberna Libraria Editores, 2012. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 141-149) And Index. The world's eyes are on Latin America as a place of radical political inspiration and as an alternative to the neoliberal model. Each country in the region deals differently in its method of government, yet there are common cultural themes that tie the continent's trajectory together. Religion without Redemption looks at the sociology of religion, political philosophy and the history of ideas of the continent, in an attempt to show how Western understanding fails to come close to a correct analysis of how and why political and economic characteristics work as they do. Luis Martínez Andrade focuses on how the centrality of religion for the people of Latin America has influenced how they interact with the changes in the modern economic system. Capitalism, for example, has taken on religious characteristics: it has sacred places of worship (the shopping mall) as well as its own prophets. Martínez Andrade discusses how this form of 'cultural religion' accompanies many aspects of life in a contradictory manner: not only does it fulfil the role of legitimating oppression, it also can be a powerful source of rebellion, unveiling thus a subversive side to the status quo. Religion Without Redemption advances the ideas of liberation theory into the 21st century, and challenges the provincialism to which many Latin American thinkers are usually consigned. --Résumé de l'éditeur The worlds eyes are on Latin America as a place of radical political inspiration, offering alternatives to the neoliberal model. Religion Without Redemption examines the history of religious and political ideas in Latin America, in order to show how and why the continents politics and economics work as they do. Martnez Andrade focuses on the central role of religion in the region and how it influences peoples interaction with changes in modern economics. Capitalism in Latin America, Martnez Andrade argues, has taken on religious characteristics, with places of worshipshopping malls and department storesas well as its own prophets. This form of cultural religion is often contradictory in surprising not only does it legitimate oppression, it can also be a powerful source of rebellion, unveiling a subversive side to the status quo. Religion Without Redemption advances the ideas of liberation theory, and challenges the provincialism to which many Latin American thinkers are usually consigned.