Mexican American Religions

“This edited volume utilizes multidisciplinary approaches to explore the infusion of Mexican American religions in political activism, literature, healing practices, and popular culture. Specifically, this work’s application of poly-methodic approaches emphasizes social scientific orientations without marginalizing traditional methodologies such as liberation theology and church studies. . . . [T]his text affords an expansion of interpretative lenses in which to examine the diverse religious experiences of Mexican Americans.” - Margarita Simon Guillory, Religious Studies Review

“The conversation about Latinos and religion will never be the same thanks to this splendid, visionary book. It captures who we are as a people—diverse, yet on a shared spiritual quest that will have huge ramifications for Latinos and beyond.” - Demetria Martínez, author of Confessions of a Berlitz-Tape Chicana and the novel Mother Tongue

“This excellent book pushes the field of religious studies forward by challenging it to consider Chicano religious studies as a rich and fruitful field of scholarly and intellectual examination. A must-read for anyone interested in U.S. Latino, Latin American, and American religions.” - David Maldonado Jr., Director of the Center for the Study of Latino/a Christianity and Religions, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

“This groundbreaking interdisciplinary exploration of Mexican American spirituality, activism, and culture will be a benchmark for all future studies on Chicano religions in the twenty-first century. I highly recommend it!” - Virgilio Elizondo, University of Notre Dame

“This thought-provoking and informative book provides a unique glimpse into the living reality of Mexican American religiosity. I expect it to be required reading for anyone interested in understanding religion in the United States.” - Justo L. González, Founding Director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative

“Coeditors Gastón Espinosa and Mario T. García have produced a landmark collection of essays that document and interpret the evolution of Mexican American religion in the United States over the past six decades. . . . All in all, this volume is a welcome addition to the growing literature on the reality and meaning of Hispanic cultures for the ever-vigorous world of religion in the United States.” - Allan Figueroa Deck S.J., Catholic Historical Review

“Gastón Espinosa and Mario García have provided a much-needed compilation of essays from a fortunately growing bibliography. For too long academics have neglected the seminal topic of religion among Mexican Americans; as a consequence, generalists have had little access to effective materials to enliven as well as enlighten their classes. This new volume moves us in a more productive direction by furnishing a usable, broadly-founded, and accessible scholarly collection. . . . Not ordinary among such edited collections, an excellent bibliography and useful index conclude this work, one which should find a space in the library of all who are interested in this foundational topic.” - John L. Robinson, Journal of Church and State

“These articles are a good starting place for those exploring ways to think about religious expression by artists, writers, and social activists. The articles are well documented and theoretically stimulating.” - Joseph A. Rodriguez, Journal of American Ethnic History

“This is an important, timely anthology, given that people of Mexican ethnicity constitute the largest cohort of the largest minority group in the United States, Latinos, and that the role of religion in society has become such a major part of the public discourse. Moreover, the collection yields a number of interesting findings from contributors, including both some of the leading lights in the field and rising younger scholars.” - Julie Leininger Pycior, History: Reviews of New Books