Description

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The Caribbean is a microcosm of the world's religions. In this very small geographic space one encounters global religions as well as indigenous religious practices--Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Santer a, Vodou, and much more. Due to this diversity, introducing and describing the Caribbean religious context is difficult. The racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of this region make brief introductions to Caribbean religions incapable of truly addressing its complex and diverse religious landscape. Too often Caribbean religion is studied through the lens of one discrete religious tradition or geographic setting.

The Oxford Handbook of Caribbean Religions offers a comprehensive overview of Caribbean religions, one that respects the diversity of the religious traditions and the national particularity of the region. Focusing on multiple geographic settings, this volume addresses the prominent religious traditions in the Caribbean by examining a cross-section of themes that impact the region and the academic study of Caribbean religion.

Opening with an overview of the multiple religions extant in the region, including some of the historical traditions that inform the contemporary context, the first section provides an overview of the history and beliefs found in the Caribbean. The second section discusses geographic-centered studies of numerous Caribbean nations. Finally, the third section brings numerous religious traditions in dialogue through thematic chapters that touch on the way religion has impacted the Caribbean beyond a traditional institutional focus.

About the Author

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Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado is Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Scranton. She received her Ph.D. in Systematic and Philosophical Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Her research and teaching interests include Latino/a, Latin American, and Feminist Theologies, as well as inter-disciplinary work in Afro-Caribbean Studies. She is the author of eight books including Afro-Cuban Theology: Religion, Race, Culture and Identity (2006) and A Critical Introduction to Religion in the Americas: Bridging the Liberation Theology and Religious Studies Divide (2014).