Synopses & Reviews
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 Doña Eus, to whom this work is affectionately dedicated.
Review
"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 CHOICE Indiana University Press
About the Author
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.
Table of Contents
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