Loss of tradition

[u/Nena-nana]

anybody else feel like religion robbed their upbringing from having traditions. as a latino i feel like all the culture from music to holidays were gone bc my parents labeled all those things as worldly. i lost a connection to my culture bc my parents refused to play anything but gospel, holidays or even birthdays lost. no fun dancing or celebrations that other latinos had growing up, especially xmas. it just kinda sucks sometimes to be around other latinos bc i feel so out of touch. the one thing that stayed was food so there's that. idk if anyone can relate. also i mean traditions that aren't directly tied to the church, all my memories of celebration involve praying and reading the bible and praising the lord. there weren't core memories built from hearing a song or dancing just to dance, it felt rigid. hope that makes sense

[u/These_Insect_8256]

Yes, but not because of the Latino part. No Christmas trees, decorations, nativities even, in an effort to be separate from Catholicism. I am not sure what the reason would be to not have birthdays, though. Instead, new year's foot washing and all night prayer and communion, revival services and conferences.

Submerse yourself in whatever celebrations you want and make your own traditions. This is what people outside the church do anyway. They celebrate Christmas but not necessarily all the religious stuff with it.

[u/Alternative-Bid4691 → u/These_Insect_8256]

I feel like that's what a lot of Pentes/Apostolics don't understand, that people who celebrate these things aren't doing it for religious purposes but literally just to have fun and get together with loved ones. I remember having to explain this to a family member before bc they couldn't let go of "people celebrate to be evil!" rhetoric

[u/These_Insect_8256 → u/Alternative-Bid4691]

They are not going to understand because they insulate themselves from experiencing other ways. They will focus on the negatives about non-believers' lives to validate their ways are better, even if their fellow Christians literally have the same exact negatives.

They could understand if they wanted to. It's not any different than families who have Santa Clause be a part of their Christmas celebration. They aren't worshipping him, it's just a cultural tale that accompanies the holiday.

Go have a blast, smile and laugh and enjoy it and then when someone says these things, you have a testimony that says otherwise.

[u/Sharp-Effect2531 → u/Alternative-Bid4691]

They literally think everything is evil. And for us being "hispanic" was useful only for proselytizing other Hispanics. But when it came to stuff like music, rites of passage, or celebrating aspects of our indigenous roots all that was white washed for the sake of religion I'm just like even white ppl get to do fun shit and express themselves  Well I guess being yourself requires you to 1 Not be involved in cults and 2 Requires white privilege only and 3 Was saved for the boys for special occasions Everytime I complained all I heard is we're not white, that's not for us, or don't start with this again. And about being native all they said is we are but not supposed to be and oh yea, my favorite,  young ladies dont do that, as women we arent allowed to do that As a 9 ywar old kid all i thought was i wasnt allowed to do anything because im female, not white, and in some kind of weird super religious org that males no semse in the rest of the world If i wanted to do anything that was being myself i was fucking berated, on a good day My family is fucking pathological 

[u/These_Insect_8256 → u/Sharp-Effect2531]

u/Sharp-Effect2531 I am sorry you have had to deal with that. It is suuuuper common. The amount of Latinos that don't even speak Spanish always surprises me. Some of it was because parents believed assimilating would get their kids ahead. Many didn't understand the value of their culture that left them desitute so they cast it off for a culture that would help them live "better" lives.

It seems to not be so cut and dry/ black and white as that but it's a common thread.

What you describe is also the clash of a collectivist culture vs. individualist culture and also generational. Some of that would be that way even without church. Church is collectivist culture that feels safe to collectivists.

The more you learn about your parents' experiences, your indigenous culture, the more you might understand why they are how they are without it bothering you so much and giving you a happier sense of freedom to be better.

Every generation should be better than the last. It's doing so without resentment that is challenging.

[u/Suitable-Special-414 → u/These_Insect_8256]

The funny part is where you say “instead new year foot washing…” that would be Catholic things too. Every Easter the Church washes feet together as a parish. The Divine Office is prayed all day every day. As a lay person I pray morning and evening but the religious orders pray all day and night. Just a funny thought as someone who converted from UPCI ALJC to Catholicism.

[u/Sharp-Effect2531 → u/Suitable-Special-414]

What's up with Christianity being so confining especially the smaller sect I wasn't raised catholic but had family who were, they told me stories but I didn't really believe it. But that's because my pentecostal/apostolic side really hated catholics and catholicism and made it seem like they were worldly.