New Worlds: A Religious History of Latin America

A comprehensive analysis of the Catholic Church's role in Latin America, from conquest to present, reveals its dual legacy: significant contributions to social justice and pastoral care alongside notable failures. The study, by distinguished historian John Lynch, employs a top-down approach focusing on the church hierarchy, intellectual debates, intrachurch dynamics, and church-state relations. While strong in addressing institutional and philosophical aspects, particularly in 19th and 20th centuries, it faces limitations in incorporating recent scholarship on grassroots religious practices and daily experiences of the faithful. The book underscores Catholic religion's dominance over five centuries but acknowledges challenges from non-Catholic religions. It serves as a selective yet authoritative synthesis on the church's history, offering deep insights into key topics while leaving gaps in areas like popular religion.

Chowning, M. (2013). New Worlds: A Religious History of Latin America. Hispanic American Historical Review, 93(2), 275–277. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182168-2077234