"Explores the spiritual traditions of South and Central America and the Caribbean Basin from the pre-Columbian period to the present. Following an introduction that sketches the history and culture of this vast region, the remainder of the volume is divided into five parts: the great traditions at the time of the conquest; the spiritual legacy of Hispanic Catholicism; the pattern of religious syncretism in the great traditions; the pattern of religious...

"Augustine's fourth-century spiritual autobiography is not only a major document in the history of Christianity and a classic of Roman Africa, it also marks a vital moment in the history of Western culture. As Augustine recounts his life, he probes the great themes that others were to explore after him - faith, time, truth, identity, and self-knowledge - with a degree of detail unmatched in ancient literature. Illustrated with vivid portraits of friends,...