Pentecostalism In Guatemala

Improved Essays
Introduction
Guatemala has become the leading place for conducting researches on religions in Latin America. The predominant religions in Guatemala are Catholicism, Christianity and Mayan spirituality. However, during the colonial era, Catholicism was the main religion. There has been a tremendous growth in the Protestants community. According to the The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “Pentecostals represent the most rapidly growing sector of Latin American Protestantism”. The other protestant churches which are also popular in Guatemala are the Lutheran, Presbyterian and Anglican. They were established by European immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, Pentecostals represent the most popular and growing sector of Protestantism in Guatemala and Latin America in whole. Religion has played a significant role in shaping Guatemalan culture and gender beliefs. In Guatemala, women see Pentecostal churches as agents of change. The Pentecostal churches empower their female church members, supports them and allow them to play leadership roles in churches. These women reciprocate by bringing new members into the church thereby increasing the growth of the church. While Pentecostalism is a religious
…show more content…
Even though it is a religion, it can have been seen as an agent of change. It has had positive impacts on the lives of Guatemalan women. Due to its ideology, it has recognized gender equality and women’s rights. Women converted because of healing, financial support and counselling. Pentecostalism has helped to address issues like health care, marital conflicts, poverty, gender roles and inequality. However, the women also became empowered as they participate in church. This made it easy for them to recruit more people to church and promoting church growth. It has also help transform the men because of its teachings against smoking, drinking and

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    In this editorial, I will be contrasting and speaking on two settlements: Jamestown, the very first English settlement located in Virginia, and the Spanish settlements. Mainly, I will be focusing on the religious and economic aspects of these two empires, as I believe these factors were the two main contributors to the everyday lives in these settlements. Interestingly, these two settlements are similar yet drastic in many ways, such as its foundation of beliefs and everyday life. Regardless of this, both of these colonies have contributed countless ways to the economical, societal, and political aspects of subsequent settlements and colonies to come.…

    • 1380 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of the most important institutions for a human being is the family. The family is where the individual builds up their manners, values, and morals. Family is also where socialization is mostly affected for an individual. According to Coltrane, family is defined as “a group of two or more people who reside together and who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption” (Coltrane). On the contrary, family is defined in many ways, some people define family as long past ancestors, distant family members, siblings or other blood relatives, and friends who are so close that they become honorary family members (Coltrane).…

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Along with other cultural elements, such as food, language, costume, festivals and celebrations constitute as an important role in displaying the syncretism and combination of indigenous traditions and customs and Catholic influence in Latin America. The Latin American festivals and celebrations especially are closely tied to religious practices of the Catholic Church so most of them take place on days according to the liturgical seasons in Catholic Christianity. In Latin America, Christian holiday celebrations include indigenous elements unlike the ones in Western Europe because in Latin America, there was a fusion of the Catholic beliefs and the indigenous folk beliefs. The extent/levels of religious syncretism varies according to the region. In the Andean areas, indigenous religious practices coexist with the ones of Catholicism.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    20th Century Latinos

    • 1605 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Variant Identities of 20th Century Latinos Oxnard, about fifty miles north of Los Angeles, is one of many in California’s expansive agricultural regions. A small town, ideally situated on a coastal plane, providing the perfect balance of soil, and moisture from the Pacific Ocean. Great conditions for the strawberry. The desirable low growing fruit is not the easiest to harvest though, requiring arduous labor under the intense Southern California sun. On any given late-spring afternoon, you’ll will find a handful of hooded workers, stooped and picking basketfuls of the sweet berry.…

    • 1605 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Colonial Latin America is a very important time period that shows us where the roots of social and cultural prejudices were created. Women in particular have faced challenges fighting constraints and prejudices, like the preconceived notion that women are inferior to men; however, there are many women that fought against those normative ideas that grounded central themes in social rights that are still important today. In the hispanic culture, women learn how to cook, clean and are seen as more nurturing, even in earlier times we can see that women were seen as “gatherers” rather than “hunterers”. All of these ideas were preconceived to keep women doing feminine things and in a way characterize all women to be more passive towards power unlike…

    • 1130 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hispanic Health Issues

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There are multiple health issues facing citizens of Hispanic countries, ranging from underfunded public health sectors to tropical diseases to women’s reproductive health. Health issues in Hispanic countries seem to be caused by multiple factors, such as lack of funds due to economic crisis, an unstable government, and the strong church influence. By dedicating more time and funding to improve the quality of the health care for their citizens, in addition to altering laws involving the church and medical procedures, the overall health of citizens in Hispanic countries can thrive. One major issue that seems to impact the Hispanic world involves women and their reproductive health. Given the strong influence of the Catholic church in these…

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Families exist in a larger complex made up of a community of kinship network and friends that make up their beliefs and values practices that are defined within the family (lynch 43). These beliefs and values are based on culture, which is comprised of the different languages spoken, as behaviors that influence each individual’s way of thinking, feeling, and interacting (28). The two cultures I decided to observe was that of the Hispanic/Latino and African American, each culture offers many differences in terms of values, communication, and religious beliefs. The Hispanic/Latino groups are comprised of many ethnic groups such as native people, African, European, and Asian heritage (25).…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I have experienced much grace through the trouble and poverty I have witnessed through my mission trips to Guatemala. I went to Guatemala June 9-16, 2014, and August 4-11, 2015 (and I plan on going back August 2016). Seeing the conditions these people live in daily, has helped me take to heart the kind of help they are in need of. Many of these people have no home, no family or no money to provide for their family, yet they are still thankful. Most of the time little boys and girls won’t have any shoes on their feet or their clothes will be far too small.…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Mayan religion is a religion based in the Western hemisphere, They are centered around worshipping Gods of nature (the sun God and moon god). The mayans are polytheistic which means they believe in multiple gods, they believe in the Gods Itzamná, Kukulcán (Quetzalcóatl), Bolon Tzacab and Chac.…

    • 372 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Hispanic Culture: Issues of Healthcare and Privacy When providing care for someone from another culture the nurse must be aware that there are some cultural differences that are upheld by other cultures. The nurse must not impose their cultural views on the patient. And the nurse cannot let his/her views effect the quality of care to be provided. The nurse also must take these differences into consideration while still doing his/her best to provide the finest, culturally appropriate care possible without being disrespectful to the beliefs or religions of others. Health and illness beliefs and practices in the Latin/Hispanic culture play an important role in religion.…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Mayan Religion

    • 1274 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Looking at the history of humans, there is always a single connection which ties every part of the world—religion. Since the beginning of time, humans have theorized about the existence of a godly figure in an attempt to explain their own existence and purpose. The Mayan civilization, originating in the Yucatan area of Central America between 2600 and 1800 BC, did just the same. Known as one of the most technologically developed and advanced civilizations of their time, they owed much of their success and later failures to their religious beliefs.…

    • 1274 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Prayer, ritual, commitment, loyalty, and dedication; minute interpretations of a larger emotion. What is devotion? Devotion is commonly expressed through a large spectrum of emotional, psychological and spiritual feelings. It is committing ones time, energy and soul to a matter, person, idle, belief or cause. Around the world, devotion is practiced by human beings in diverse methods and behaviors.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Guatemala Civil War Essay

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Gradually, however, Guatemala’s civilian political class and civil society gained unexpected strength in the new political space the army had opened and asserted their independence from military tutelage during the 1990s. ” I can reflect on what Ruhl mentioned because these people needed to stand up against the authoritarian military rule. They were being pushed around and since a military is funded, Guatemala’s economy tanked. The political violence caused poverty throughout the country. Many peasants living in the south and east lived below the poverty line and in the north and west of the country others lived in extreme…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Pentecostal church falls under the blanket of Christianity and are closely related the Holiness the church. Christianity is one of the three Abrahamic Faiths. Pentecostal churches focus on the Holy Spirit through baptism as evidenced by speaking in tongues. My Grandmother frequent church for, training, pursuing knowledge, praying, and singing, therefore we all were required to learn. Going to church with my Grandmother, had continuously remained fun…

    • 1497 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Patriarchy In Religion

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Throughout history the role of women has been the same across many religions. Outside of people of color, women are the second most oppressed and marginalized group of people. Because many of these religions are believed to be rooted in patriarchal norms, they have really strict views on what the role of women should be. It is through the use of religion that allows the male dominated society to create and place women in these gender specific roles. However, history has shown some efforts from women of all ethnicities fight to obtain equality in their religions and in society period.…

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays