Keywords
Maya Theology, Morely Manuscript, Catholic doctrine
Abstract
In 1576, at the height of Catholic evangelization in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, an unnamed Catholic preacher met regularly with a congregation of indigenous Maya to teach them the doctrine of Christianity. He taught them about the biblical creation, as well as the nature of God and the devil, all from his own original doctrinal instructional manual. This preacher was also a Maya himself Between the years 1500 and 1800, only about 1,100 European-descended Catholic friars ministered to the tens of millions of Maya in Mesoamerica. Because there were so many natives and so few friars, they could not regularly visit, bless, or instruct every community they had jurisdiction over. Instead, friars would often train Maya converts to carry out some of the lesser duties of religious officials, including the doctrinal instruction of other Maya. This ensured that each Maya Christian community received the ecclesiastical attention it needed.
Recommended Citation
Meyer, Travis
(2021)
"Maya-Catholic Theologian: The Influence of Maya Theology on Catholic Doctrine in the Morley Manuscript,"
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 50:
Iss.
1, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol50/iss1/8
Included in
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, History Commons, Medieval Studies Commons, Religion Commons