Maya Apocalypse
Seventeen Years with the Women of a Yucatan Village
Published on 22. September 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
576 pages
978-0-253-21501-7 (ISBN)
Description
Maya Apolcalypse is the record of fieldwork that, as often happens, ended up quite differently from the way it was originally planned. In conducting a research project about speaking in tongues (glossolalia), Felicitas Goodman recorded this non-ordinary behavior among English- and Spanish-speaking members of Pentecostal congregations. A Mexican Apostolic Pentecostoal minister introduced Goodman to the preacher in a Maya village in Yucatan. The congregation she came to know in 1969 experienced a 'crisis cult' in response to a prediction of the end of the world, which was to take place on September 1, 1970. Goodman subsequently spent a part of every year until 1986 with the women of the congregation. Maya Apocalypse is a record of that fieldwork, which eventually covered not only the events in the temple, both ordinary and extraordinary, but also the lives of the women who acted as informants, especially Dona Eus, to whom this work is affectionately dedicated.
Reviews / Votes
"Anthropologist Goodman (Denison Univ.) is best known for her widely read books on trance, possession, ecstasy and altered states of consciousness (e.g. Where the Spirits Ride the Wind, CH, Feb'91; How About Demons?, 1988). Decades ago she was among the only serious students of glossolalia, or speaking-in-tongues. None had studied the phenomenon among speakers of exotic languages when in 1969 Goodman began observing a Maya Pentecostal group in Yucatan. Here Goodman publishes field diaries documenting in rich and moving detail her almost two decades of contact with that small but active congregation. Goodman seems to have edited out the roughness of field writings so that the text is highly readable. The resulting work provides an exceedingly rare window on the tumultuous life history of a sect among whom trances and visions are commonplace, and who at one juncture tensely awaited the imminent second coming of Christ (hence the book's title). On a more personal level, the author intends her book as a chronicle of her deep and developing relationships with Maya village women, thus contributing to the still growing genre of reflexive writings by women anthropologists. This is a very stimulating, valuable, and unique book for all levels/collections." -P. R. Sullivan, independent scholar, 2002may CHOICEMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bloomington, IN
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
21 b&w photos
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
831 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-253-21501-7 (9780253215017)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Felicitas D. Goodman taught anthropology at Denison University until her retirement. She has written a number of books, including Speaking in Tongues; The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel; How about Demons; Ecstacy, Ritual, and Alternate Reality; and Where the Spirits Ride the Wind.
Content
Contents Preliminary Remarks Pronunciation Guide Introduction Book 1 1. Yucatan: Geography and Habitat 2. History of the Yucatan 3. Yucatan Today 4. The Pentecostal Movement 5. Pentecostalism in the Yucatan 6. The Village of Utzpak 7. The Apostolic Congregation Book 2: 1969 1. Arrival in the Yucatan 2. The Village: Settling In 3. Enter Hermana Barrera 4. Barrera Goes to Work 5. More from the Home Front 6. Making a Joyful Noise 7. Visiting 8. More Services 9. More Visiting 10. Interval in Merida 11. Back in Utpak 12. The Baptism on the Seashore 13. The Last Week 14. Discussion Book 3: 1970 1. Return to Yucatan 2. Changes in the Temple 3. Barrera's Ambitions and the Second Coming 4. A Sunday Service 5. A Trip to Merida 6. Visit to Temax 7. Showing of the Film 8. Sunday Services with a Difference 9. The Trip to Tibolom 10. Back Home Again 11. The Trip to Chetumal and the Chetumal Cooperative Church Compound 12. Home Again 13. Driving toward a Peak 14. Interlude 15. Discussion Book 4: 1971 to 1975 1. January Visit in Utzpak 2. Keeping in Touch 3. Return to Yucatan 4. The Congregation 5. At Eus's Place 6. At Reina's Place 7. The Wedding in Las Choapas, Tabasco 8. Developments in the Congregation until July 1972 9. Enter the William Branham Mission 10. The Schism of Don Victor 11. Return to Utzpak, July 1972 12. Saturday Evening's Service, 1 July 1972 13. Illness of Dona Filipa 14. Making the Rounds 15. A Trip to Merida 16. A Private Service 17. Family Matters 18. Stories of Witchcraft 19. A Women's Quarrel 20. The Congregation from August 1972 until the Summer of 1973 21. A New Minister in Utzpak 22. A Baptism in Merida 23. Back in Utzpak 24. First Encounter with Don Victor 25. June 1974 26. The Situation in Merida 27. Reaction from Mexico City 28. The View from Utzpak 29. Isauro's Version 30. An Excursion to Izamal 31. Weekday Interludes 32. Once More Barrera 33. Finally, Don Victor 34. The Congregation from the Summer of 1974 until July 1975 35. Back in Utzpak 36. The Death of Mam Dosa 37. Some News of the Congregation 38. The Drought 39. The Arrival of Wilma 40. A Service in Don Eduardo's House 41. Visit to the Rancho San Jorge 42. An Excursion to Chetumal 43. The Home Turf 44. Another Visit by Don Victor 45. Some Diary Entries-1975 46. Discussion Book 5 1. Arrival 2. The Death of Don Eduardo 3. Visit at Reina's House 4. Keeping Warm 5. Wilma's Place 6. Visit to the Doctor 7. Fragmentation of the Congregation 8. And Now They Dance 9. Chetumal Once More 10. Utzpak Once More Book 6 1. Various Services but None for Easter 2. Lecture at the University of Yucatan 3. Interval 1977: A Boy's Story Book 7 1. Arrival, 1978 2. Reina's Cottage Industry 3. Temax: The Doctor and Dona Andrea 4. Excursion to Chetumal 5. Wilma's Visit 6. The Services 7. Visit to Valuch and Other Final Images Book 8 1. Arrival and Settling In 2. Family Gossip 3. Evening Services and the New Minister 4. Reina and the Cottage Industry 5. Life with Eus Book 9: Fieldwork: August 26-September 7, 1983 1. Arrival and a Revival Meeting 2. Life with Eus 3. Services 4. Wilma's Children 5. Demonic Possession Book 10: Fieldwork: January 2-15, 1985 1. Arrival and at Home with Eus 2. Invitation to the Demons 3. Ho. Miguel Opens the Door 4. Wilma the Exorcist 5. The Demonic Possession 6. The Door Closes Book 11: December 4-15, 1986 1. Arrival and at Home With Eus 2. Correspondence: March 1985 - October 1986 3. Correspondence: March 1987 - November 1988 Notes Index