Sacrifice and Regeneration: Seventh-day Adventism and Religious Transformation in the Andes

At the beginning of the 20th century, Seventh-day Adventism experienced extraordinary success in the Andean highlands, leading to a significant shift in the religious landscape of Latin America. Yael Mabat's book "Sacrifice and Regeneration" explores the historical trajectories of Protestantism in Latin America, highlighting the interaction between converts, missionaries, and their social settings and networks. The conversion had profound implications for social, political, and economic institutions, as well as influencing idiosyncratic religious practices and beliefs. Mabat's innovative historical perspective provides a better understanding of the complex and contradictory way in which Protestantism took shape in Latin America.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 22 November 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

At the dawn of the twentieth century, a remarkable phenomenon unfolded as Limas aristocrats engaged in heated discussions about the future of a nation teeming with "Indians." Meanwhile, thousands of Aymara and Quechua Indians abandoned the pews of the Catholic Church and embraced the teachings of Seventh-day Adventism. This extraordinary Christian movement, known as the mass conversion from Catholicism to various forms of Protestantism in Latin America, achieved unprecedented success. Catholic contemporaries, astounded by this shift, became increasingly concerned when they noticed that portions of the Indigenous population in the Andean plateau had joined Protestant churches.

In her book "Sacrifice and Regeneration," Yael Mabat delves into the captivating story of Seventh-day Adventism's extraordinary growth in the Andean highlands at the turn of the century. Through a comprehensive and nuanced analysis, Mabat sheds light on the historical trajectories of Protestantism in Latin America. By examining the religious conversion among Indigenous populations in the Andes as a complex interplay between converts, missionaries, and their social contexts and networks, Mabat reveals how the religious and spiritual needs of the converts also brought salvation to the missionaries. This conversion had far-reaching implications, shaping the functioning of social, political, and economic institutions at both local and national levels. At the same time, socioeconomic currents exerted both short-term and long-term influences on the unique religious practices and beliefs that either accelerated or hindered religious change.

Mabat's innovative historical perspective on religious transformation offers a fresh and insightful understanding of the intricate and often contradictory process through which Protestantism emerged in Latin America. By delving into the lives of individual converts, missionaries, and their communities, Mabat provides a rich tapestry of experiences that contribute to our understanding of this transformative period. "Sacrifice and Regeneration" is a valuable addition to the literature on religion, history, and Latin America, offering a nuanced and empathetic portrayal of the complex interplay between faith, culture, and social change.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496233530