Communities of the Soul

Communities of the Soul A Short History of Religion in Puerto Rico - McGill-Queen's Studies in the History of Religion

Paperback (15 Dec 2021)

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Publisher's Synopsis

Religion is fundamental to contemporary Puerto Rican society. From the cosmology of the Indigenous Taìno, to the wide range of Judeo-Christian churches and sects, to the practitioners of spiritism, Afro-Caribbean religions, and witchcraft, religious practice in its many forms permeates the lives of most Puerto Ricans.Communities of the Soul illuminates the landscape and history of religion in Puerto Rico from the beliefs and practices of the Taìno to the religious diversity of the present day. Throughout its history, religion in Puerto Rico has braided institutional forms and popular practices, yet has always been a community-based process - made by the people. When the island was under Spanish colonial rule, the formal but weak presence of Catholicism meant that Puerto Ricans cultivated their religious experiences within families and local communities as much as within the structures of the church. These communal practices continued as Puerto Ricans joined Protestant denominations - particularly evangelical Pentecostalism - after the American conquest of the island in 1898. In the second half of the twentieth century, religious diversity increased with the formation of Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as numerous local evangelical congregations. Even as Puerto Rican society becomes more cosmopolitan and diverse, popular devotions and ritualistic practices remain an important part of everyday life.The first synthesis of the religious history of the island, Communities of the Soul is an innovative exploration of religion in Puerto Rico and the beliefs, practices, and diversity of its past and present.

Book information

ISBN: 9780228008408
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
Imprint: McGill-Queen's University Press
Pub date:
DEWEY: 200.97295
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 216
Weight: 200g
Height: 229mm
Width: 152mm
Spine width: 18mm