THEO 455 - Latin American Christianity with an Emphasis on Guatemala   Tags: central america, guatemala  

J-Term Guatemala Trip: Study Christian theology and practice in a context of the great struggle for human dignity. From on-location in the Guatemalan highlands, students will study the experiences of Guatemalan churches in the twentieth century. These churches serve as a lens for analyzing the various forms that Christianity has taken in Latin American history since the Spanish Conquest. Students will study the politics, history, culture and economy of Guatemala in order to join with Latin Americans in reflecting theologically on the meaning of the gospel in its historical context. Theological topics explored may include evangelization, Christology, sin, martyrdom, poverty, the nature of the Church, the Eucharist and the Church’s role in Guatemala’s peace process. Practical service activities will be combined with academic study. 

Country: Republic of Guatemala
Government: constitutional democratic republic
Population: 13.2 million
Area: 108,889 km²; slightly smaller than Tennessee
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau
Major language(s): Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40%
Major religion(s): Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Capital & population: Guatemala City; 2.5 million
Monetary unit: GTQ (Guatemalan Quetzal) 

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