Publisher's Synopsis
In 1980, the U.S. census counted slightly over 14 million Latina/os in the U.S. It is estimated now to be 42 million. On many levels, Latina/o individuals, families, and communities have been the loci of extraordinary cultural blending and transformation. This work highlights the primary characteristics of Latina/o religion, the historical and contemporary context in which it has developed, and its broad impact on religious culture in the U.S. Latinos/as have been the agents through whom hybrid religions and religious practices such as Santeria and Curanderismo have come to the U.S. And once arrived, they have also altered religious traditions in innovative ways to meet new challenges and circumstances. Though majority Catholic, they have also adopted Protestant Christianity and Mormonism in large numbers, and with the participation of Latina/os those religious traditions have taken on sometimes subtle and sometimes radical new forms. Through a careful examination of all the aspects of Latino religion in the U.S., the author provides readers with a new way to view this community and its impact on American culture and religious life.
The religious lives of Latina/os often exist beyond traditional institutional forms and include a host of devotional practices, personal beliefs, and social conventions that challenge easy categorization. Religious expression is diverse and multifaceted; it is shaped by experiences of immigration, discrimination, economic hardship, and other social forces. Although the religious lives of Latina/os have much to tell us about their communities in general, as well as the ever-changing American religious landscape at large, this crucial field tragically misunderstood and overlooked. Lint-Sagarena corrects this neglect in this insightful new work. Considered are various rituals, devotions, practices, and beliefs common in Latin American religion. The author also offers a distinct look into the ways in which religion affects the lives of everyday Latino/as, as well as the effects on society and American religion in general. He considers regional differences, new traditions, life-cycle celebrations, gender roles, and the place of religion in family traditions and values. In all, this work offers the best, most comprehensive overview of Latino religion in America.
