Terror in the Land of the Holy Spirit: Guatemala under General Efraín Ríos Montt

Terror in the Land of the Holy Spirit examines Guatemala during the 1982-1983 military dictatorship of General Efraín Ríos Montt. Virginia Garrard-Burnett presents the political, religious and social dynamics that shaped this period of Guatemala's civil war. The book analyzes Ríos Montt's unique fusion of evangelical Christianity with military authoritarianism. Drawing from declassified documents, oral histories, and other sources, Garrard-Burnett reconstructs the regime's tactics and ideology during its campaign against leftist guerrillas and indigenous communities. Through interviews and archival research, the work documents the role of Protestant churches and U.S. evangelical organizations in supporting the dictatorship. The text examines how religious language and symbolism were used to justify state violence and reshape Guatemalan society. This study offers insights into the intersection of religion, politics, and violence in Latin America during the Cold War era. The book raises questions about the relationship between faith and power, and the lasting impact of religious nationalism on democratic societies.

Readers value this book's detailed research into the intersection of religion and politics during Ríos Montt's rule. Multiple reviewers note the author's access to primary sources and interviews provides fresh insights into how evangelicalism shaped Guatemala's conflict. Positives: - Clear analysis of Protestant influence on military campaigns - Strong documentation of human rights violations - Balanced treatment of complex religious factors - Helpful context about Cold War dynamics Negatives: - Academic writing style can be dense - Some sections repeat information - Limited coverage of indigenous perspectives - High price point for relatively short length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (24 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (8 ratings) One reader on Goodreads said it "fills an important gap in scholarship about Guatemala's civil war." An Amazon reviewer noted it "explains religious aspects other histories miss." A review in The Americas academic journal praised the "meticulous research" but wished for more indigenous voices.

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📚 Guatemala's President Ríos Montt was the first Latin American head of state to be tried and convicted of genocide in his own country's courts in 2013, though the verdict was later overturned. 🔍 Author Virginia Garrard-Burnett conducted extensive research in Guatemala's previously classified military archives, providing unprecedented insight into the regime's inner workings. ⛪ Ríos Montt was an ordained minister in the neo-Pentecostal Church of the Word (Iglesia del Verbo) and frequently used religious rhetoric to justify his counterinsurgency campaign. 🗓️ During the 17 months of Ríos Montt's rule (1982-1983), an estimated 86,000 Maya civilians were killed, with hundreds of villages completely destroyed. 🌎 The book examines how U.S. evangelical Christians, including Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, supported Ríos Montt's regime, viewing him as a bulwark against communism in Central America.