Missiological Perspectives

Local Religion in Colonial Mexico by Martin Austin Nesvig
     The 10 essays in Local Religion in Colonial Mexico provide information about the religious culture in colonial Mexico. Among the various essays, Carlos Eire’s essay begins the study with the meaning of “popular religion” in colonial Mexico. Antonio Rubial Garcia looks at the icons. Martin Austin Nesvig’s essay discusses Tlatelolco, a city near Tenochtitlan and the site of Mexico’s college for Indian education where the Indians studied classical Latin, Spanish grammar, and Catholic theology in preparation for the priesthood. William Taylor’s essay uses an 18th century Franciscan friar to demonstrate that priests transferred their own religion and networks of authority, power, and knowledge into their pastoral service.
     David Tavárez uses examples from Oaxaca to show 17th century Zapotecs were not willing converts to Catholicism, preferring to retain the “idolatrous” beliefs of their ancestors. The final essay, by William Christian, Jr. examines the different “Catholicisms” that exist in the world.