Spanish-American Culture Analysis

Were any of your answers to the survey questions impacted by your culture and how? What culture do you belong to? Explain.

The culture I choose to explore is the Hispanic culture. I choose this culture because many of the people I work with and many of my friends identify with the Hispanic culture and I feel it would be interesting to know more about a culture that is so relevant to my life. A few of the big things in Hispanic culture that I found interesting are language, traditions and food. Hispanic refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture.

An immigrant's culture and beliefs take a shift, sometimes going extinct, or they evolve to include elements from both countries; where they grew up, and where they’ll grow old. Transculturation is key in order to fit into a new society, those who do it well have a smoother time transitioning. For example the Hmong and Mexicans both had to flee their country, but the Mexicans found it easier to transition to the American culture than the Hmongs.The Hmongs never thought they would leave their home in Laos, they were happy and thriving on their lands. Unfortunately war struck and the Hmong agreed to help the US fight back, due to their involvement in the war, they were seen as traders, therefore they were persecuted by the Vietnamese. Due to this the Hmong people suffered in

Imagine someone is lost, standing in a checkout line at a corner drugstore. They need directions to get back on the road. The couple in front of them is having a very engaging conversation, fluently, in Spanish. Most would not even give an effort to talk or ask where to go, but why not? Too often the assumption is made that people who speak Spanish are immigrants, and do not speak English well. Hispanics are, persons of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American descent, other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. Too often the assumption is made that Spanish-speakers are unamerican, lazy, receive low income, or are uneducated in any way. Hispanics are also demonized in the media as people who are stealing American jobs. That is the belief that some Americans associate with Hispanics.

Hispanics are transforming the nation’s religious landscape, not only because of their increasing numbers but also because they are practicing a distinctive form of Christianity. Religious expressions associated with the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements are a key attribute of worship for Hispanics in many of the major religious traditions — far more so than among non-Latinos. Moreover, the growth of the Hispanic population is leading to the emergence of Latino-oriented churches across the country . Although the vast majority of religious Hispanics identify as Catholic (Pew, 2007), a significant minority practice various Pentecostal faiths. Many of those are recent converts. The desire for a more direct, personal experience with God emerges as by far the most potent motive for these conversions.

Mexican American Catholics combined socializing with religion to form traditions uniquely to them. Jamaicas, for example, were church bazaars and parish fundraisers that surrounded “parishioners in cooperative work and cultural celebration, creating a sacred-secular space in which they…affirmed a sense of dignity and community” (Goff & Harvey, 2004, p. 186). Similar ethnic and religious celebrations include posadas and pastorelas (community Christmas processions and nativity plays), quinceañeras (rite of passage for fifteen-year-old girls), and baptism parties among many others (Goff & Harvey, 2004, p. 186). The Mexican American Catholics’ sacred space was out in the communities where social and religious traditions

Social forces such as class struggle, social change, urbanization, social structures, ecclesiastical hierarchy, and policies, to name but a few, play a hand in theological formation. As the following chart shows, the social forces within internal and external boundaries serve as determining factors in the germination of Latin America and U. S. Hispanic Liberation Theology. Latin American liberation theology arose during the 1960s and 1970s resulting from a “milieu of extreme poverty, class conflict, military coups, and political turmoil in countries such as Brazil, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Progressive religious leaders began to recognize the powerful alliances between the church and the state while the vast majority of the population lived in poverty.” While addressing “the role of Christians in relationship to class oppression, the role of foreign multinational corporations, U. S. foreign policy, Latin American regimes, and military dictatorship” in its initial development, Latin American liberation theology first viewed gender and ethnic discrimination as secondary matters. This view was consequential in that the conceivers and writers of Latin America liberation theology at the time were, predominantly, Catholic male theologians operating

“Because of social, political, and economic circumstances, people from Mexico are immigrating in unprecedented numbers. These immigrants provide an evangelistic and discipleship challenge which must be recognized. This is an opportunity for the church to exemplify love and compassion as the gospel is ministered to these newcomers. Therefore we resolve to receive these new arrivals with open fellowship, regardless of nationality, race, social or economic status; to create an awareness among the constituents of the Church of God of the needs of these immigrants, both physical and spiritual; to develop a liaison between sending and receiving countries, thus building bonds of respect and trust; to recognize the leaders among the immigrants and

Religion is a part of most people’s lives in Mexico. In the 2010 census, approximately 90% of the population claimed to be at least nominally religious: 82.7% of the population identified as Roman Catholic, with another 9% claiming an affiliation with another religion (“Mexico,” n.d.). The practice of Catholicism in the country varies greatly, from groups that follow a rigid interpretation of Catholic doctrine to indigenous groups who practice syncretistic religions, or the mixing of Catholic practices with traditional, indigenous rituals. For these indigenous cultures, religion helps maintain a cultural identity that

Our call to show care and concern and to work with communities and individuals to develop and just and caring pattern or system reflects who God is. With a different culture context, we should reach out to the poor. To address the poor in the local community, I propose a contextualized church model with the emphasis of going to the people and bringing the people to the

The Catholic church teaches us to dress modestly and appropriately meaning that we do not wear revealing clothes, especially when we go to church. Also, I’ve learned how I should live my life. The 10 Commandments and Precepts of the Church have helped me realize what kind of person I want to be. My race and ethnicity have helped me to understand where I came from and my family's background. Mexicans usually are more involved with the Catholic church which is part of the reason why my Hispanic family members are active participants in the church. The significance of my religion has been demonstrated by my Mexican heritage more than my European-descent family

Racism is a persistent issue directly threatening the values and teachings of Catholic theology and humanities advancement towards unity and peace. A destructive ideology such as racism debunks the entire foundation from which Catholicism is built. Catholicism follows the life and teachings of Jesus and the idea of solidarity, one of seven principals of Catholic Social Teaching; preaching for a single human family despite any national, racial, ethnic, economic, or ideological differences. Accepting or remaining silent when presented with an act of racial discrimination is equally as damaging as committing the act itself, as it contributes to an environment tolerant of racial prejudices. The Catholic church and its followers have a duty to acknowledge racism to its fullest extent and provide resolution. Through a collective stance against racism between the Catholic establishment and society while simultaneously providing education on the issue with realistic solutions, a progressed cultural environment can ultimately be developed that is reluctant to condone racism and all associated ideologies, utilizing peace, unity, and Catholic values as its foundational core.

Religion plays an important role in Hispanic and Latin American culture. Hispanic and Latin Americans are highly religious and they represent a highly Christian constituency. The majority of Hispanic and Latin Americans identify as Catholic and Protestant. Catholic affiliation is much higher among first-generation than it is among second- or third-generation Hispanic or Latino

I don’t know much about the Filipino culture, but I didn’t find anything about it out of the ordinary or too different. If anything, it is very much like many cultures I have encountered in and out of the United States. Almost every grandmother believes if you keep your head covered you will avoid catching a cold. This might not be the true way you catch a cold, but it is smart advice. I know my grandmother was adamant about bundling up babies and keeping their heads covered during the cold seasons. Also, I do not see any harm in the use of chamomile oil, however, I would suggest your grandmother seek medical treatment for any serious illnesses.

explores the cultural changes in the Latin American communities, as well as how the Church