This article was originally published in The Day.
Santo Domingo, DR.– As is to be expected in recent times, faith has had changeswhich come along with the walk and development of human beings with the passing of the days.
The transformation in faith has gone from the simple, sublime and subtle, reaching the most extreme levels.
The displays of faith in the Dominican Republic not only have to do with preachingalthough this includes doctrines with severe explanations by their leaders or those more natural that only cite the word itself, but have had a plurality and variation in terms of clothing, music, viralization and even language.
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religious denominations
Today in the country the versatility in religions is increasing, this is due to freedom of expression and worship. Each group, although it has been instructed in the same biblical line, begins to look for its own spaces and its own rules.
From there are born what are the evangelical churches, Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and the most recent: RT.
To these are added the Adventists (Seventh-day Adventist Church), the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and, in a smaller group, the Jewish and Muslim temples. These last two have received strong criticism due to the distance between both cultures.
The Catholic church It continues to be the matrix of religion in the Caribbean country and the one that has remained most stable in its doctrine over time, although with adjustments, such as the non-veneration of the Virgin Mary as ancestor, sponsored by the current Pope Leo XIV, as well as the inclusion of women in important roles within the Church. In addition, Catholicism in the country works hand in hand with technology, live broadcasts and the inclusion of its churches on social networks.
Clothing of today’s Christian
The way of dressing, without a doubt, is one of the most striking. The parishioners’ outfits have evolved to more modern tones, with elegant and even avant-garde touches, which have included haircut styles, makeup, tighter clothing or even adopted the practices of plastic surgery, thus leaving aside those cultural doctrines that condemned the exercise of these manifestations.
Far from the evolution of modernism, others have even taken a step back and wanted to emulate the clothing allusive to those of the time when Christ Jesus walked on earth, which are known as tunics. A dress, perhaps not very friendly to the tropical climate, but which every day becomes more and more like a label among the name “Rabakukos or RT”.
These new Christians have created a new niche of faith, style, behavior and even sphere, despite living in such a mixed and culturally Christian-Catholic society.
Faced with these new trends, there is a group that persists: it is that conservative evangelical Christian who takes care of their clothing, but does not overrule the climate; that grooms their hair, but to a lesser extent, although many prefer to leave it essentially natural.
Others mix among the common and go unnoticed, without any identification of whether or not they belong to a group, and those are usually Catholic Christians.
Viralization of faith
Faith is no longer only what is said in Scripture, or at least that is the new message that is spread with the actions of some promoters of the evangelical faith or in a general sense.
This is not limited to a temple, but rather seeks ground in social networks, in likes, followers and interaction.
Characters like Felipe and Support, Marcos Campos and the shepherd Adrian Rodriguez They have become famous for their characteristic messages, features and languages that are not understandable, but striking or even humorous.
Some have arrived with the firm conviction of being witnesses of the faith, but the temptation of viralization has not allowed them to maintain a stable relationship between the two, as is the case of the “Pastor Wendy”who ended up straying from the ways of God.
Others, with inspiring and strength messages, have gained space among a female audience, like the pastor Yesenia Then, Marcos Yaroide and his wife, as well as Juan Carlos Harriga.
The Battle of Faith ministry is perhaps the most reliable example of a viral faith, but with a more traditional origin. This is headed by the renowned pastor Ezequiel Molina Rosario and his son.
Christian music of yesterday and today
Music, one of the most contagious manifestations that conquers hearts regardless of audience or race.
This has been transformed into younger rhythms, called contemporary Christian music or pop-rock, Christian rap, hip-hop and even mambo.
In this one, Barak stands out, with “Everything is going to be fine”a song that became even more popular due to the group’s participation during the making of Alofoke’s house.
Martha Candela with “Clean”, “Sube lo Vidrio”, “Con la Sombra de Pedro” and others. This rhythm, which is very popular in the conglomerate of the people of the “world”, has come to revolutionize a sector that was dominated by artists like Julia Javier and Stanislao Marino.
A group that initiated modernity in Christian music is made up of Lilly Goodman, Tercer Cielo, Marcos Witt and Jesús Adrián Romero, with their ballads, pop and worship.
preaching
The preaching is no longer limited only to a religious message or sermon from the Bible, but includes social criticism, warnings for parishioners and messages with calls for attention to political leaders.
An example of this was the religious speech made by the pastor Ezequiel Molina Rosario during the Battle of Faith this January 1st, in which, in addition to giving a message of encouragement to believers, he made strong pronouncements, with a special mention of administrative corruption and the loss of fundamental values.
Examples of a not-so-traditional preaching are those usually carried out by the “rabakukos” in the streets, some with megaphones, accompanied by a message that, according to some faithful, is in divine languages, but which are not understood by those who listen to them.
The publication Faith in viral times: from the pulpit to the trending topic appeared first on The Day.
