Mission culture on the upper Amazon
Book Description
David Block presents a groundbreaking examination of cultural transformation in the Amazon basin, revealing how indigenous communities and Jesuit missionaries created an entirely new society through mutual adaptation and spiritual exchange. Rather than portraying native peoples as passive recipients of missionary influence, this scholarly work illuminates the active role of Moxos Indians in shaping their own destiny during centuries of profound change.
The narrative unfolds across the vast Moxos region of what is now northern Bolivia, where Jesuit arrival sparked an unprecedented cultural synthesis. Block demonstrates how indigenous wisdom and Christian spirituality merged to form a unique mission culture that survived even after the Jesuits' expulsion in 1767. This remarkable society represented neither conquest nor submission, but genuine collaboration between two worldviews.
The author traces this extraordinary experiment through its eventual collision with the devastating rubber boom, which brought exploitation and conflict that continues today. Through careful historical analysis, Block reveals how communities navigated spiritual transformation while preserving essential elements of their ancestral heritage.
This nuanced exploration offers profound insights into how different spiritual traditions can intersect and evolve together. For readers interested in understanding how faith communities adapt and thrive amid cultural upheaval, Block's work provides valuable lessons about resilience, synthesis, and the complex dynamics of spiritual encounter across cultural boundaries.
Who Is This For?
ð Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
ð Length: 240 pages
What You'll Discover
- â Explore Indians of south america, missions
- â Explore Missie
- â Explore Mission
- â Explore Jesuits
- â Explore Jezuïeten
- â Explore RELIGION
- â Explore Bolivia, history
- â Explore Mojo Indians
