Global Pentecostalism and Ethnic Identity Maintenance among Latino Immigrants
Protestantism has been considered particularly weak for sustaining ethnic boundaries among immigrants. Recognizing the global adaptability and indigenization of Pentecostalism, however, we expect that immigrants from more pentecostal nations will likely retain their Protestantism in ways that affirm...
| Authors: | ; ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2017
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| In: |
Pneuma
Year: 2017, Volume: 39, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 5-33 |
| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy CA Christianity KBQ North America KDG Free church |
| Further subjects: | B
Pentecostalism
immigration
ethnic identity
congregations
transnationalism
ethnography
case study
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | Protestantism has been considered particularly weak for sustaining ethnic boundaries among immigrants. Recognizing the global adaptability and indigenization of Pentecostalism, however, we expect that immigrants from more pentecostal nations will likely retain their Protestantism in ways that affirm their ethnic identity. Using ethnographic data, our research demonstrates how a Guatemalan pentecostal church in Oregon successfully preserves its homeland culture, revealing how the structure of Pentecostalism at La Iglesia de Restauración (affiliated with Elim churches) sustains ethnic continuity with its native indigenous culture. This Latino Protestant church affirms Pentecostalism’s capacity to encourage transnational relationships through a variety of social mechanisms, including provision of ethnic symbols and a space to use them, use of homeland languages (both Ki’ché and Spanish), and promotion of a homegrown leadership. Moreover, the doctrinal division between “world” and “church” discourages assimilation into American culture while simultaneously reinforcing maintenance of “godly” indigenous practices that are legitimated as appropriately religious. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0747 |
| Contains: | In: Pneuma
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700747-03901004 |