Latino Pentecostals in America
Faith and Politics in Action
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Harvard University Press
Published:29th Aug '16
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This insightful work explores the rise of Protestantism among U.S. Latinos, focusing on the Assemblies of God. It highlights their struggles for leadership, equality, and activism within Evangelical politics.
"Latino Pentecostals in America" by Gastón Espinosa explores the significant growth of Protestantism among U.S. Latinos, highlighting that 12.5 million now identify as Protestant, with the Assemblies of God attracting one in four converts. This transformation, driven largely by the Pentecostal movement, has reshaped the religious landscape, making the Latino Protestant population larger than that of all U.S. Jews and Muslims combined. Espinosa delves into the historical roots of this shift, tracing it back to the Azusa Street and Apostolic Faith Revivals in the early 20th century.
The book addresses the challenges faced by Latino Pentecostals, including the pursuit of indigenous leadership, racial equality, and the inclusion of women in ministry. Espinosa emphasizes their active role in social and political issues, including immigration reform, challenging the notion that they are politically disengaged or predominantly right-wing. Through a detailed analysis of their political views and voting behaviors from 1996 to 2012, he illustrates a more nuanced picture of this community, highlighting their commitment to blending faith with social justice.
Espinosa's research sheds light on the evolving identity of Latino Pentecostals, who were once referred to as "The Silent Pentecostals." By bringing their story to the forefront, he enhances our understanding of the diversity within Latino religion, Evangelicalism, and broader American culture. This study underscores the growing influence of Latino AG leaders and their churches in various spheres, including denominational and presidential politics, marking a pivotal moment in the history of American religious life.
This magnificently researched book about the Latino contribution to the American Assemblies of God brings to public consciousness a minority whose history has been overlain by what Gastón Espinosa calls the European-American history of Pentecostalism in North America, including Puerto Rico. -- David Martin * Church Times *
This is an excellent study of the Latino movement within the Assemblies of God (AG) denomination… This is finely crafted denominational history and, given the size and importance of Hispanics in the AG and in American Pentecostalism generally, it is an important resource for understanding the future of Christianity in North America. -- D. Jacobsen * Choice *
Those interested in the religious experience of Latinos or in the history of Pentecostalism will find Espinosa’s study to be both informative and useful. -- John Jaeger * Library Journal *
Espinosa has provided a powerful history of the Latino Assemblies of God. Marshaling rich and often untapped sources, he rewards the reader with a wonderful tapestry of the religious lives and struggles of an important movement and people. -- Efraín Agosto, New York Theological Seminary
Espinosa’s magisterial study of Latino Pentecostalism will be the most authoritative work on this subject in the field of Latino history and religion for years to come. -- Mario T. Garcia, University of California, Santa Barbara
This is by far the best researched and most provocative study on the origins and history of U.S. Latino Pentecostalism. It destroys so many common misconceptions that reading it is an absolute necessity for anyone claiming to know anything about the subject. -- Justo L. González, author of The Story of Christianity
Latino Pentecostals in America is a landmark study that will be the gold standard on the topic for years to come. -- Jesse Miranda, Director, Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership, Vanguard University
This illuminating history of Latino Pentecostalism’s largest denomination and its social and political effect on the broader society is an invaluable contribution to the study of religions in the United States and Latino history. -- Mayra Rivera, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University
Latino Pentecostals in America is a provocative, myth-busting, and truth-telling work. Espinosa’s placing of the story of the Latino Assemblies of God within a larger sociocultural framework is groundbreaking, relevant, and prophetic. A must-read! -- Eldin Villafañe, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
- Nominated for Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion 2015
- Nominated for Hubert Morken Award 2015
ISBN: 9780674970915
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
520 pages