March 15, 2011

Religeous Order

There's a lot more graffiti on the island these days. Most of it is religious. And allow me to suggest it is not Catholics doing it. The 2000 Census reported 76.5 percent of Mexicans are Catholic. Most of the rest are protestant. In the time I've been on Isla Mujeres, there has been a mushrooming of church constructions. I've only captured a few and couldn't get to others I know well and a few I've only seen once out of cabs.

The Assemblies of God has a large church n the church row that runs down a center road of the island, past the woodworking shops and lumber stores. Presbyterians were the first I became aware of on that street, through my friend Baltazar at Amigos Restaurant. He and his sons attend this church.
My hairdresser and some other neighors are Jehovah's Witnesses. Their meeting hall is at the end of that center road, across from the baseball field. Many speak English, but she does not even though she goes door to door with the message. I have to carefully plan my hair emergencies around Saturday mornings and Tuesdays!

Another neighbor and family attended the Christian Community Church. Their motivation to change faiths was some general dissatisfaction with the Catholic church and a belief that it's better not to sin in the first place, rather than sin, confess and be absolved.
There are others. Pentecostals have two houses of worship. The Baptists have the building next door to Casa Sirena. There are a few I have seen only at night, when the doors of a house open and the sign inside the door and the pews inside reveal a service.
In this Catholic nation, there is room for a lot of religions!

4 comments:

Jackie said...

I was a bit surprised when Witnesses knocked on my apartment door in January. One spoke very good English, the other none.

Sue said...

What's the one right beside La Bruja?

IslaZina said...

The one beside La Bruja is one of the Pentecostal churches.

krisla said...

Thanks for this--I've been trying to get a handle on all the churches & religions here, esp after seeing several of these buildings. Still can't quite figure out their meeting times (the Catholic one included).
And the J.W.'s --do they really think they'll make that many converts walking so often down the Punta Sur Coastal Highway, or just enjoying the view?