Critical Introduction to Religion in the Americas

Michelle A. Gonzalez is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Miami and author of Afro-Cuban Theology: Religion, Race, Culture, and Identity.

• Acknowledgments IntroductionLatin American Liberation TheologyBlack Liberation Theology Latino/a Theology: To Liberate or Not to Liberate?African Diaspora ReligionConclusion NotesBibliography Index About the Author

"Franklin has penned a valuable book that examines the changing context of youth activism in the post-civil rights era...The book closes by explaining how the issues of today are linked to the past, with particular attention to juvenile justice and the labor movement. This is extraordinarily difficult to do, and the author does it withgreat ease . . . A progressive and valuable book." (Choice) "Thoroughly interrogates methodological presuppositions in contemporary studies of theology and religion. I strongly recommend this book to scholars from either discipline who desire to honestly appraise how we investigate our subjects and what we intend to accomplish in our work." - Timothy Matovina,University of Notre Dame "Gonzalezs work is provocative. Her introduction to Latin American, Black, and Latino/a liberation theologies is sharply critical." (Modern Theology) "A great resource for introducing the interdisciplinary study of religion in the Americas, with a focus on the relevance of the reflected faith experience and religious practices of marginalized populations for the academic study of religion. Presenting a hemispheric landscape, this book argues for constructive relationships and collaborative methodologies between theology and religious studies in the interest of both engaging todays lived religion and affirming the necessity of Liberation Theologies in todays world." - Maria Pilar Aquino,University of San Diego