Timeline
Discussion Questions
Digital Resources
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think missionary work often immediately follows imperial expansion?
- How do and why do religious and governmental institutions work together or have similar goals? Do they play similar roles in society? Why or why not?
- When learning about the missionary work in Puerto Rico, were you reminded of any other regions where Christianity (or other religions) were spread after imperial or colonial takeover? What are some similarities or differences?
- Why did religious reasoning for missionary work often come with racist reasonings? Can we draw a connection between religion and race?
- Did American missionaries truly believe in the religious reasoning behind their work? Did they recognize that they were complicit in a political agenda?
- How does understanding the religious reasoning behind missionary work change our understanding of historical events? What happens if we assume that their religious reasonings and devotion are true?
- How can religion provide agency for Puerto Rican converts? What sorts of social or political benefits could they receive?
- What did it mean to be a “native helper”? Did this role come with social benefits? Was it problematic?
- How can we understand the potentially harmful effects of missionary work while still allowing room and respect for the faith of converted Puerto Ricans?
- How can we see the modern effects of missionary work today? What legacy has Protestantism left in Puerto Rico and its diaspora?
Digital Resources
This set of data from the Pew Research Center looks at the decline of Catholicism in Latin America and among Latinos living in the United States and their destinations afterward.
Ghani, Fatima. “Different Destinations for U.S. Hispanics, Latin Americans Who Leave Catholic Church.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, May 31, 2020.
This set of data from the Pew Research Center gives a quick data-centered look at the island.
Krogstad, Jens Manuel, Kelsey Jo Starr, and Aleksandra Sandstrom. “Key Findings about Puerto Rico.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, September 21, 2020.
This digital archive from the Presbyterian Historical Society contains a number of documents related to the church’s missions to Puerto Rico.
“Presbyterians in Puerto Rico.” Pearl Digital Collections. Presbyterian Historical Society.
This podcast (and transcript) from NPR discusses a book about American Imperialism entitled “How to Hide an Empire” by historian Daniel Immerwhar.
Davies, Dave, and Daniel Immerwhar. “The History Of American Imperialism, From Bloody Conquest To Bird Poop” NPR Fresh Air, February 18, 2019.
This article published by the Council on Foreign Relations (a think tank) provides an overview of Puerto Rico as a United States territory, including a historical overview and more recent data.
Cheatham, Amelia, and Diana Roy. “Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory in Crisis.” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, September 29, 2022.