there has been a very significant shift away from catholicism in Guatemala. while previously it was the only religion the country is now split and 50% of those practicing religion are catholic - the 50% are called evangelical.
i have no idea what the evangelicals believe or don't believe. i can say that there are missionaries all over Guatamala and i did overhear this conversation at a local shop in Antigua. clearly, this youngish [20 something] guy and slightly older woman were missionaries i'm just not sure which flavor.
him: someone asked me about the cross and i didn't know what to say
her: we don't ever talk about the cross or crucifixion because they are symbols associated with catholicism.
ummm. ok. i didn't wait around to hear more.
one day on an hour-long ride to Santa Teresita where there are hot springs we got to speculating about this shift away from catholicism. urbanization and economic decline were early factors and but it was the catholic church's alignment with the guerrillas during the civil war that opened the flood gate of evangelicals. from there it seems the catholic church wasn't 'tending it's flock' and that led to the massive exodus.
more on the religious practices in Guatemala.
i have no idea what the evangelicals believe or don't believe. i can say that there are missionaries all over Guatamala and i did overhear this conversation at a local shop in Antigua. clearly, this youngish [20 something] guy and slightly older woman were missionaries i'm just not sure which flavor.
him: someone asked me about the cross and i didn't know what to say
her: we don't ever talk about the cross or crucifixion because they are symbols associated with catholicism.
ummm. ok. i didn't wait around to hear more.
one day on an hour-long ride to Santa Teresita where there are hot springs we got to speculating about this shift away from catholicism. urbanization and economic decline were early factors and but it was the catholic church's alignment with the guerrillas during the civil war that opened the flood gate of evangelicals. from there it seems the catholic church wasn't 'tending it's flock' and that led to the massive exodus.
more on the religious practices in Guatemala.
