Description
Book SynopsisIn Like Leaven in the Dough: Protestant Social Thought in Latin America, 1920-1950, Carlos Mondragón offers an introduction to the ideas of notable Protestant writers in Latin America during the first half of the twentieth century. Despite their national and denominational differences, Mondragón argues that Protestant intellectuals developed a coherent set of ideas about freedom of religion and thought, economic justice, militarism, and national identity. This was a period when Protestants comprised a very small proportion of Latin America's total population; their very marginality compelled them to think creatively about their identity and place in Latin American society. Accused of embracing a foreign faith, these Protestants struggled to define national identities that had room for religious diversity and liberty of conscience. Marginalized and persecuted themselves, Latin America's Protestants articulated a liberating message decades before the appearance of Catholic Liberation Theology.
Trade ReviewThe concise work by Carlos Mondragón ...locates the development of Protestant social thought within the history of ideas in Latin America. Through their books and articles, the intellectual leadership of Protestantism influenced public debate far beyond the membership of the churches. Daniel Miller and Ben Post, through their highly readable translation, have given English readers access to this piece of Latin American and political history. * The Americas: A Quarterly Review of Latin American History *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 The Role of Religion in History Chapter 2 The Protestant Presence in Latin America Chapter 3 Heterodox Religious Thought Chapter 4 Freedom of Conscience and Religious Liberty Chapter 5 War and Peace Chapter 6 Protestantism and Society Chapter 7 Protestantism and National Identity Chapter 8 Conclusion Chapter 9 Appendix A: Individuals Mentioned in the Text Chapter 10 Appendix B: Three Letters from Miguel de Unamuno Chapter 11 Appendix C: Letter from Gabriela Mistral Chapter 12 Appendix D: Contributors to La Nueva Democracia
