Pentecostal Religion

The religion of the person that I interviewed is Puerto Rican born in America but considers himself to be full Puerto Rican. He was raised in the Pentecostal church, where now is a place where he preaches and teaches others about the Pentecostal religion. I had the chance to ask him several questions regarding the rules and beliefs of his faith. My interviewee explained the different rules Pentecostal puts upon women, men, and children. According to my interviewer, in his religion women are only allowed to wear skirts because the bible says that women cannot wear men’s clothing. The women also mainly do not cut their hair too short because they are supposed to look different from every other woman in the world. Women even generally do not dye their hair some might, but not all do. Also, women do not wear necklaces because years ago people used chains to control the slaves and for Pentecostal it symbolized slavery. They do not wear earrings because to wear them they would have to make holes in their ears to put them, and it can be considered self-mutilation.

According to my interviewee, men have different rules to obey inside the Pentecostal religion. For men, they must always wear long pants to church, never shorts because it is considered out of respect. Also, for the Pentecostal community men usually do not let their beards grow until they are married because then men are regarded with responsibilities as a husband and father. The rules for men as far as earrings and necklaces are the same for women, men are allowed to cut their hair because men must look respectable and presentable. The men are allow to dye their hair, unlike women who are not permitted. The rules for the children are the same as men and women. My interviewee explained how Pentecostal children are not baptized when they are babies instead they are baptized when they are older around the age of 12 or 13. For Pentecostals being baptized at the age12 or 13 symbolizes a renewal in Christ and the death of the sinning person. They believe babies have not experienced sin or even understood what the restoration in Christ signifies. Finally, the Pentecostal men, women, and children also do not dance because it is considered inappropriate for most people in the world dance, they want to be separate from the rest of the world. The men, women, and children also are not allowed to smoke or drink because for Pentecostal, for them their bodies symbolize the temple of God and they believe God lives in their heart so they must treat their bodies with respect.

Pentecostal Traditions

One of many Pentecostal traditions my interviewee introduced me was a church service on Sunday. For Pentecostals, Sundays are supposed to be God’s day, a day one must dress their best and give their best to God. He expressed