AnyBook4Less.com	Find the Best Price on the Web Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Home  |  Store List  |  FAQ  |  Contact Us  |
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money Keyword AuthorISBN

Title: Rendering Unto Caesar: The Catholic Church and the State in Latin America by Anthony James Gill, Anthony Gill ISBN: 0-226-29385-8 Publisher: University of Chicago Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.00

Your Country USA Canada United Kingdom Australia Austria Belgium France Germany Italy Netherlands Switzerland Currency AutoUSD CAD GBP EUR AUD CHF Delivery Only cheapest delivery All delivery options Include Used Books Are you a club member of: Barnes and Noble Books A Million Chapters.Indigo.ca

Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: You like the book?
Comment: Try having him in lecture. Professor Gill shines in both arenas.

Rating: 5
Summary: highly recommended
Comment: Anyone interested in the overlap of politics and religion, particularly in Latin America, should read this book. Anthony Gill applies to politics and religion some basic principles that economists have shown to explain the behavior of business firms. In doing so, Gill provides us with an insightful and valuable way of thinking about how political and religious leaders behave.

Gill argues that most of the time, dominant religions-those who claim the adherence of the vast majority of the population-cooperate with the state. The Church can provide legitimacy to the ruling regime, giving it much needed credibility in the eyes of the public. In return, the state can supply crucial resources to the Church. When one religion holds a monopoly or near-monopoly position in the loyalties of the people, it will not have an incentive to violate this mutually beneficial relationship, regardless of how the state behaves. When there is competition among religions for the hearts and souls of the populace, however, the calculations change. Recognizing that people can turn to alternative religions, leaders of the dominant religion will often oppose a regime viewed with disdain among parts of the population. Gill develops and applies these ideas to the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state in twelve Latin American countries during the 19th and especially the 20th centuries.

This brilliantly conceived book succeeds in every respect. It takes on a controversial subject, presents its argument in a clear and careful manner, and develops convincing evidence. Gill effectively demystifies both government and, especially, religion. He shows that religious leaders have to worry about growing or at least maintaining their memberships, and this clerical concern affects the political stances they take. If you're like me, you'll find your time reading this book well spent: You will learn much about Latin American history and culture; you will come to understand how governments view religion; and you will gain new insights about how religious leaders behave in Latin America and maybe even your hometown. I recommend the book with great enthusiasm.

Similar Books:

Title: Born Again in Brazil: The Pentecostal Boom and the Pathogens of Poverty by R. Andrew Chesnut ISBN: 0813524067 Publisher: Rutgers University Press Pub. Date: 01 September, 1997 List Price(USD): $22.00