THE COSMOPOLITANIZATION OF THE LUZ DEL MUNDO By MARY PUCKETT A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2017 © 2017 Mary Puckett To my Mom and Dad ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my parents for their endless support. I also thank my advisor, Anna Peterson, for all her help and guidance. This project would not have been possible without them. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...............................................................................................................4 LIST OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................................7 ABSTRACT .....................................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................10 Brief Background ....................................................................................................................14 LDM Theology .......................................................................................................................16 Global Religion .......................................................................................................................20 Case Study: The Luz del Mundo ............................................................................................24 Methods ..................................................................................................................................27 Approach .................................................................................................................................30 Chapter Outline .......................................................................................................................33 2 THE ORIGINS OF THE LUZ DEL MUNDO .......................................................................39 The Mexican Revolution and Transition to Liberalism ..........................................................39 LDM History ..........................................................................................................................42 Hermosa Provincia ..................................................................................................................45 Theology and Doctrine ...........................................................................................................49 The Primitivism and Pragmatism of the LDM .......................................................................59 Chapter 2: Conclusion ............................................................................................................69 3 THE LDM AS A TRANSNATIONAL CHURCH ................................................................71 LDM and Transnational Social Fields ....................................................................................71 Luz del Mundo and Electronic Media Connections ...............................................................76 LDM Migrants in the United States........................................................................................78 The LDM as a “Structuring Structure” ...................................................................................83 LDM Values and U.S. Culture ...............................................................................................91 Hybridity .................................................................................................................................94 Transnational Religious Identities ..........................................................................................98 Chapter 3: Conclusion ..........................................................................................................103 4 THE LUZ DEL MUNDO AS A COSMOPOLITAN CHURCH .........................................108 “Cosmopolitanism”: A Contested term ................................................................................109 Cosmopolitanism and the Luz del Mundo ............................................................................112 Becoming A Church for the World ......................................................................................114 Outreach Efforts ....................................................................................................................117 5 Cosmopolitanism at the Santa Cena .....................................................................................122 LDM Members Maintain Church Roots ...............................................................................128 The Process of Cosmopolitanization ....................................................................................130 LDM: A Limited Cosmopolitanism ......................................................................................134 Chapter 4: Conclusion ..........................................................................................................136 5 LDM YOUTH AND COSMOPOLITAN SOCIABILITIES ...............................................142 Missionary Strategies ............................................................................................................142 New Generations of LDM Members ....................................................................................145 Cultural bricoleurs ................................................................................................................148 A Battalion of Warriors ........................................................................................................151 Dedication as Conversion .....................................................................................................157 Youth as a Workforce ...........................................................................................................158 Benefits for Youth ................................................................................................................163 Opportunities for Youth ........................................................................................................165 Cosmopolitanism and Women ..............................................................................................168 Chapter 5: Conclusion ..........................................................................................................171 6 CONCLUSION: FIELDWORK CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ......................177 Fieldwork Opportunities .......................................................................................................183 Fieldwork Challenges ...........................................................................................................186 New Directions .....................................................................................................................188 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................190 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .......................................................................................................197 6 LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 1-1 Photo of the flagship LDM temple in Hermosa Provincia. ...............................................36 1-2 Aerial photo of Hermosa Provincia.. .................................................................................36 1-3 Photo of the temple interior in Hermosa Provincia.. .........................................................37 1-4 Photo of LDM temple in Chiapas. .....................................................................................37 1-5 Photo of LDM temple in Houston, Texas ..........................................................................38 1-6 Photo of LDM temple in Miami. .......................................................................................38 3-1 Casa Cultural Berea’s Facebook cover photo, demonstrating the LDM’s unity with the large goal of church growth and the church’s diversity, evidenced in the incorporation of English here. ........................................................................................105 3-2 Twitter post of Berea Internacional’s celebration of Apostle Naasón’s birthday. ...........105 3-3 A young photographer documents the 2016 Baptisms in Miami. ...................................106 3-4 LDM members around the world wear white to watch the 2016 Baptisms.....................106 3-5 Drones used during the LDM’s annual baptisms are used to broadcast the ceremony so that it is viewable by other congregations or church members unable to attend. ........107 4-1 Apostle arrives in Hermosa Provincia at the Welcome Ceremony for 2016 Santa Cena. ................................................................................................................................138 4-2 Chinese “delegate” enters the temple at the 2016 Santa Cena Welcome Ceremony ......138 4-3 USA “delegate” enters the temple at the 2016 Santa Cena Welcome Ceremony. ..........139 4-4 Swedish “delegate” enters the temple at the 2016 Santa Cena Welcome Ceremony. ....140 4-5 Indian “delegate” enters the temple at the 2016 Santa Cena Welcome Ceremony. ........141 4-6 Sculpture in honor of previous Apostle Samuel at Temple Bethel in Guadalajara reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower... ....................................................................................141