Understanding Latin Americans

Eugene A. Nida

Description

Despite their apparent similarities, the cultures of Latin American and North American differ remarkably. These differences sometimes cause misunderstanding and tragic failures in communication. In order to aid in mutual understanding, we need a study to find norms and shared values within different Latin American cultures.  

Understanding Latin Americans helps readers gain new insights into matters that Latins themselves have explored and describe. Part I presents an analysis of basic Latin personality characteristics, as described primarily by Latin psychologists. Part II explores four aspects of the background and developments within Latin America religious life. Special attention is given to movements within Protestantism.  

Eugene Nida sought to spur ongoing, productive dialogue between Latins and North Americans. This ambition motivated Nida to speaks meaningfully about similarities and differences between cultures. He explores an array of values that mark many spheres of Latin life, whether religious, philosophical, political, aesthetic, social, and familial. This book encourages readers to rethink cultural assumptions as we learn from one another.  

Contents

Preface

Part I: Major Themes in Latin American Life

1.     Similarities and Contracts

2.     Authoritarianism and Individualism

3.     Idealism and Realism

4.     Machismo and Hembrismo

Part II: Backgrounds and Developments

5.     Social Structure and Evangelism

6.     Christo-Paganism

7.     Mariology in Latin America

8.     The Indigenous Churches in Latin America

Notes

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Theology
• Philosophie et théologie
• Anthropology

Informations

• Publié par: William Carey Publishing
• Date de parution: 01 juin 1974
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780878087136
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

OTHER BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR also available from the William Carey Library

God’s Word in Man’s Language Message and Mission: The Communication of the Christian Faith Customs and Cultures

Copyright ©1974 by Eugene A. Nida All Rights Reserved No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

IBSNs: 978-0-87808-117-2 (paperback), 978-0-87808-117-2 (epub)

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Nida, Eugene Albert, 1914- Understanding Latin Americans. Published in 1969 under title: Communications of the Gospel in Latin America. Bibliography: p. 1. National characteristics, Latin American. 2. Latin America—Religion. I. Title F1408.3.N52 1974 301.29's 73-80164 ISBN 0-87808-117-8

In accord with some of the most recent thinking in the academic press, the William Carey Library is pleased to present this scholarly book which has been prepared from an author- edited and author-prepared camera-ready manuscript.

Published by the William Carey Library 533 Hermosa Street South Pasadena, Calif. 91030 TEL. [phone]

Contents

PREFACE Part I: Major Themes in Latin American Life 1. Similarities and Contrasts 2. Authoritarianism and Individualism 3. Idealism and Realism 4. Machismo and Hembrismo Part II: Backgrounds and Developments 5. Social Structure and Evangelism 6. Christo-Paganism 7. Mariology in Latin America 8. The Indigenous Churches in Latin America Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

Preface

is volume is a revised edition ofCommunication of the Gospel in Latin America, which appeared as No. 53 in the seriesSondeos,by Centro Intercultural de published Documentación (C I D O C). In view of certain significant revisions of detail, the omission of one chapter, and the rearrangement of the material, a new title seems to be desirable. e present title and subtitle(Understanding Latin Americans: with special, reference to religious values and movements)I believe, reveal more accurately the purpose and will, contents of the book. Part I consists of an analysis of basic Latin personality characteristics, as described primarily by Latin psychologists and essayists, which can readily be seen from the footnotes and bibliography.Part IIexplores four aspects of the background and developments of the religious life of Latin America, with special reference to movements within Protestantism. e chapters ofPart IIpublished in an earlier form in were Practical, Anthropology, a journal dedicated to the application of anthropological insights to the problems of missionary activity. e material ofPart I is scheduled to appear in some forthcoming numbers of the same journal. e chapters of this volume were written before the important developments in the Roman Catholic Church associated with Pope John and Vatican II. Accordingly, they do not reflect certain very significant changes which have taken place in (1) ecumenical understanding, (2) greatly increased social concern on the part of the Roman Catholic Church, and (3) the biblical renewal, which has stimulated much greater interest in the message of the Bible and the proclamation of the Good News in Roman Catholic churches. As will be clearly evident to the reader, much of what is described in this volume and many of the insights noted are applicable more to Mexico and Guatemala than to the rest of Latin America. ere are two reasons for this. First, the author has much greater personal acquaintance with these two countries than with other regions and quite naturally he draws considerably upon his own background. Second, Mexican psychologists, psychiatrists, and philosophers have been much more prone to discuss and analyze Hispanoamerican traits than have those in other regions of the Latin world. Accordingly, bibliographical sources and data tend to reflect primarily certain features of Mexican life. However, there are very clear parallels to other parts of the Hispanoamerican world; and though the applications may not be direct, the analogies are sufficiently clear to provide helpful insights into problems in other regions. For important critical judgments and advice on a number of points in the analysis of the themes in Latin American life, I am deeply indebted to a number of my colleagues: Gonzalo Báez-Camargo, Jacob A. Loewen, Ivan Nothdur, Alfredo Tépox V., and William L. Wonderly. Greenwich, Connecticut January 1974 EUGENE A. NIDA

Part I Major Themes in Latin American Life

I Similarities and Contrasts

In comparison with the dramatic contrasts between the Orient and the Western World, between Negro Africa and industrialized Europe, and between the masses of India and the rural population of North America, the differences between the Latin American and North American ways of life seem minimal; and yet underlying these apparent similarities are many significant contrasts, which from time to time cause serious misunderstanding and tragic failures in comprehension. Too oen people in the Americas rather blindly assume that they are all alike. Do they not share a common cultural background in Europe? Are they not bound by links of a common Christendom? Are they not similarly new nations in the New World? But these apparent similarities only tend to mask certain basic differences which, if unrecognized, contribute to continued mutual suspicion and even hostility. Orientals and Africans are so obviously different that North Americans expect their ways of life to be radically diverse. erefore they are not surprised when there are failures of comprehension. But in the Western Hemisphere most North Americans expect similarities, when in reality there are radical diversities; and they assume understanding, when in actuality people are often talking on quite different wavelengths. To many North Americans, people of Latin America seem strangely contradictory: so passionate and yet so melancholy; so dedicated to the joys of life but so cynical about the chances for happiness; so much in love with life but so preoccupied with symbols of death; so colorful (in dress, fiesta, or politics) but so depressed in slums, poverty, and revolution. On the other hand, to the average Latin American most North Americans seem to be predictably materialistic, banal, and “flat” —as tasteless as a meal served in an automat. Even within the areas of church life there are radical differences between North America and Latin America. Maryknoll Fathers have been run out of Guatemalan towns for denouncing pagan practices which had been hallowed by time and patiently tolerated by a local clergy. Protestants have thought that mission-founded churches in Latin America would function more or less as their North American models, only to discover that constitutions mean very little when there is a clash of strong personalities in the church. Just as some countries do not obtain a new president without a revolution, so some churches do not “elect” a new pastor without a similarly ruinous struggle for power within the church. North American Roman Catholics are oen shocked to discover that some of the most dynamic persons in the Roman Catholic movement in Latin America are convinced and dedicated socialists—bent on violent revolution as the only way of bringing justice to a much abused people. Protestants in North America are equally bewildered to see that although their own missionary programs are beginning to “level off” in growth and influence, numerous indigenous Protestant movements are growing with incredible dynamic force and power. In Chile such movements, though receiving absolutely no help from abroad, are four times the size of all mission-sponsored churches. In Mexico there are four principal indigenous churches which have been in existence for only about 30 years but which even now have as many members as all the traditional Protestant churches in the country. ese distinctively national movements in Latin America, whether Roman Catholic or Protestant, are quite different in structure, ethos, manner of communication, and message from the foreign imposed programs originating abroad. And yet these movements do have some strikingly similar features, reflecting a number of important aspects of Latin personality. It is for this reason that anyone who would understand the dynamic developments in Latin America must gain some basic insight into those fundamental drives