Blood Entanglements: Evangelicals and Gangs in El Salvador

In low-income neighborhoods in El Salvador, gangs and evangelical churches have significant influence over the public sphere. Pastors and gang leaders compete for power, and gang members can be found in churches and faith-based organizations. Blood Entanglements explores the importance of religion in these neighborhoods and how evangelicals interact with gangs, shedding light on how evangelicals engage with Latin American society and social problems.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 12 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In numerous low-income communities across El Salvador, two powerful entities exert significant influence over the public realm: gangs and evangelical churches. Members of these groups frequently share familial ties, employ similar organizational tactics, and engage in mutually beneficial economic transactions within their local marketplaces. Pastors and gang leaders vie for power within these communities, often engaging in informal power-sharing arrangements. Furthermore, entanglements extend beyond formal organizational boundaries, as gang members can be found within churches and faith-based organizations, while an evangelical presence permeates prisons and other spaces under the control of gangs.

Blood Entanglements, a comprehensive empirical study, provides a deep insight into the intricate web of relationships between gangs and evangelical churches in these neighborhoods. Author Stephen Offutt employs the concept of entanglement to elucidate the compelling reasons behind the frequent and often intimate interactions between evangelicals and gangs, which are often perceived by many evangelicals as morally repugnant. Through his analysis, Offutt sheds light on the ways in which evangelicals engage with Latin American society and address social issues more broadly.

The book concludes with thoughtful policy recommendations aimed at reducing the prevalence and intensity of gang violence in regions characterized by a significant evangelical presence. By understanding the complex dynamics of entanglement, policymakers can develop targeted strategies to foster community cohesion, promote social justice, and create safer environments for all residents.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197587317