ous beliefs and practices of the Andes (5).
In other words, the accounts which we have all see Christianity as a superior religion and the Andean as an inferior religion, and all take for granted that the invaders from Europe were justified in trying to convert the native population---by indoctrination and coercion---to Christianity.
Not only do we have bias-ridden accounts and descriptions of Andean religion, we also have prejudice in the very selection of activities and data which are used to come to the biased, predetermined conclusions. The author's efforts are all directed toward correcting these biases, and demonstrating the results which flow from such biases: "I have tried to show that the confrontation between Andeans and invaders activated forboth sides a particular range of religious action and experience through which it is possible to gain a more intimate understanding not only of Andean but also of Spanish and Christian religion and culture" (13).
The author wisely and accurately notes that it is perhaps not possible to reconstruct Andean religionb as it actually existed during the time of the ivasion. She aims to provide as accrate and objective a desription as possible, and perhaps as importantly tries to show as fairly as possible not only the Andean position but also the admittedly biased perspective of the Europeans in this regard: "What I have sought to do is construct a framework in which Spanish and Christian ideas on this subject are rendered intelligible and can engage our sympathy, a framework also where the voices of those Andean people of so long ago can be heard speaking about the divine powers of their majestic land" (14).
For those who seek in this book a definitive picture of the Andean religion as it existed at the time of the coming of the Spanish Christians, there will be disappointment.
Similarly, those who seek a polemical indictment of the conquering, imperialistic Spaniards wil...