This study is divided into four very unequal sections: (a) an extensive exposition of the ancient Mexican religions with emphasis on the Aztec beliefs; (b) the historic meeting of these religions with Christianity at the time of the Spanish conquistadors and missionaries; (c) the resultant syncretism, or amalgamation, of the native and Christian faiths; (d) Mexico’s religion of the future: the Christian church is to take into consideration all that is good in the native religions and character, all that is noble, true, and beautiful; and, building on these elements, add all that is best in western (European) Christianity and culture in order to form Mexican Christianity of tomorrow.
The author summarizes his thesis as follows (p. 309): “It was always a difficult problem for the evangelizing church to communicate the divine revelation to the people of other cultures in such a way that a new creative synthesis would result among each group. Already Paul had to deal with this complicated task as he proclaimed the gospel to the Hellenistic world. The missionaries in sixteenth-century New Spain were faced with the same difficulty: how should the messengers of the gospel of Christ conduct themselves vis-à-vis the ancient Mexican religion and culture?”
Nebel draws on almost all important published sources. He does not list in his bibliography or cite in his numerous and extensive notes any manuscript material. Obviously the subject he has chosen—Mexican religions and their confrontation with Christianity—is most complicated and extensive. He wisely limited himself to published sources. A subsequent volume might include unpublished materials.
The book is an exceptionally clear and straightforward account, an excellent and reliable compendium of the topic. A penetrating analysis of the contents of hundreds of other publications with a good explanation of the terms used; accounts of journeys through Mexican regions, especially of the Nahuatl-speaking Indians, with presumably an adequate acquaintance of their language; a thorough familiarity with the doctrines, rites, and usages of the Catholic faith—all this and much more have made possible the production of a most scholarly work.
Inasmuch as the problem of the syncretism that resulted from Mexico’s native religions in their contact with Christianity arose at the very beginning of its formation and has persisted until today, every person interested in Mexican history should find the present volume pertinent and enlightening. The book deserves to be translated into a universal language, such as English or Spanish; preferably, both. A complete index and three maps enhance this scholarly and enjoyable volume.
