The Rich Tradition of Hispanic Theology
Each year, from September 15 to October 15, the United States celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month—a time to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino/a communities. For the church, this season is also an invitation to explore the rich theological traditions that have emerged from these communities.
Streams of Hispanic Theology
Hispanic theology is not a single voice but a chorus of perspectives that reflect the diversity of Latino/a/x communities across the Americas. Among the most influential are:
Latino/a/x Theology: A broad movement that centers the experiences of Latino communities in the United States, often drawing attention to the realities of immigration, identity, and bicultural life.
Mujerista Theology: Pioneered by Ada María Isasi-Díaz, a Cuban-American theologian, Mujerista theology seeks to elevate the voices and experiences of Latina women. Rooted in grassroots expression, it insists that theology must rise from lived experience and daily struggles. (For more info, click here.)
Latin American Liberation Theology: Emerging in the 20th century, this movement emphasizes God’s preferential concern for the poor and oppressed, calling the church to action in the pursuit of justice.
Together, these traditions remind us that theology is never abstract—it is always contextual, arising from real people and their real lives.
Lo Cotidiano: The Holiness of the Ordinary
Theologian Edgardo Colón-Emeric, dean of Duke Divinity School, has described several practices deeply woven into Hispanic cultures as profoundly theological: fiesta, family, hospitality, and lo cotidiano—a phrase meaning “the holiness of the ordinary.”
This perspective reframes everyday life. Meals around the table, celebrations with neighbors, the rhythms of work and rest—all can be spaces where God is encountered. Hispanic theology often begins here, not in ivory towers but in kitchens, plazas, and communities.
What Makes Latina/o Theology Unique?
A hallmark of Hispanic theology is its collaborative and communal character. Latin theologians often write and teach in dialogue with one another, reflecting accountability to the multiple communities from which they arise.
This means Hispanic theology:
Engages with dominant traditions while also questioning their assumptions.
Refuses to treat one cultural lens as “standard.”
Grows organically, from the grassroots, rather than being imposed from above.
In this way, Hispanic theology models what the wider church is called to be: a body that listens, collaborates, and reflects the diversity of God’s people.
Why It Matters
Exploring Hispanic theology during Hispanic Heritage Month is more than cultural appreciation—it is theological enrichment. These traditions remind us that God is encountered in context, that daily life is holy, and that communities on the margins often reveal the heart of the gospel most clearly.
