ABSTRACT
This chapter is about the nature of the Latino Religious Resurgence and offers a theoretical exploration of its historical importance. It views the Latino Religious Resurgence as a movement that was different from the Chicano Power movement, the United Farm Workers or the Latino Studies' movements, the Puerto Rican Nationalist or Independence movements. The idea of making the resurgence into a special period within the framework of larger changes can be compared to syzygy. Most important, the process of change required native Latinos to assume leadership for their own people. A socioreligious syzygy had created an opportunity for Latino leadership, and a powerful national movement was the result. The Protestant, Pentecostal, and Catholic leaders who disagreed with the premise of colonialism often could do little more than soften the impact of official attitudes by demonstrating affection and understanding for the religious traditions of their congregations.
