Across Borders: Latin Perspectives in the Americas Reshaping Religion, Theology, and Life - Hardcover

Rarely have scholars of theology and religious studies from North and South America collaborated on a project that argues for reimagining the study of religion. . . .an acute attention to the power differentials at work in the United States and Latin America inform these writings. . . .[the book's] quality owes much to the visionary and distinguished scholars published here. . . .and their unflinching commitment to truth-telling about what many would rather not think about. * Theological Studies * A timely and on target book. Well-tied and well organized, this collection of essays on "border thinking" from the south and the north of the Americas, calls for "deep solidarity" and a nomadic understanding of a God who is weak in power and strong in love. The book offers compelling arguments for a migratory epistemology, as well as moving testimonies on the many dimensions of what crossing means, geographically or culturally. Its leaves enticingly invite the reader to cross the borders of her or his own comfort zone to meet danger, but also the promise of liberation. A most welcome book and not to mention long overdue! -- Vitor Westhelle, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Offering a fresh application of post-colonial theory, Across Borders examines connections between religion, race, ethnicity, and class to understand and confront the neocolonialism of our globalized era. Through transnational methodological approaches from Latin American and U.S. Latino/as realties, especially deep solidarity and border thinking, the authors expand the meaning of the subaltern and challenge dominant assumptions about the division between the sacred and the profane. This book invites new approaches to religion, theology, race, and class for action in church and society. -- Edwin David Aponte Ph.D, Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, Dean and Professor of Religion and Culture

While work in theology and religious studies by scholars in Latin America and by Latino/a scholars in the United States has made substantial contributions to the current scholarship in the field, there are few projects where scholars from these various contexts are working together. Across Borders: Latin Perspectives in the Americas Reshaping Religion, Theology, and Life is unique, as it brings leading scholars from both worlds into the conversation. The chapters of this book deal with the complexities of solidarity, the intersections of the popular and the religious, the example of Afro-Cubanisms, the meaning of popular liberation struggles, Hispanic identity formation at the U.S. border, and the unique promise of studying religion and theology in the tensions between North and South in the Americas.