"Dying well" in Latin America: Christian martyrdom, religion and politics

Abstract

On the basis of the distinction between a “theological” treatment of the figure of the martyr and the historiography of martyr narratives in Latin America, this paper analyzes the variations of the martyr figure considering its emergence in different religious and political discourses from colonial times to the present. This review shows the historically controversial position of this figure, on the border between religion and politics. Its threshold position also varies depending on the viewpoint from which the martyr narrative is enunciated, the place and specific time in history. Thus, far from converging on a univocal sense, the figure multiplies its senses, even leading to opposing meanings.