“Despues q los padres vivieron aqui no se nos ha aparezido mas el demonio”: the demonization of indigenous customs and leaderships in jesuitical discussions (Jesuit provinces of Paraguay and Uruguay, 17th century).

Abstract

The article discusses the representations and specificities of the devil in the Jesuit narratives, referring to the Jesuit Provinces of Paraguay and Uruguay in the 17th century. We interpret the demonization of indigenous cultures and leaderships bearing in mind the demonological repertoire of the missionaries brought from Europe, and the needs and strategies of evangelization in the region. Overall, indigenous lifestyle, their resistances and oppositions to the Christian project were seen as manifestations of devilish inspiration, which needed to be vigorously suppressed.