How My Son Was
Converted to Catholicism
By Paul Lyons
Guatemala and all of Central America is simply crawling with Evangelical Christianity. The latest statistics that I found stated that 75% of Guatemalans are Catholic but this seems pretty high. I would guess that now it is about a fifty-fifty split on religious affiliation. Everyone seems to get along fine even as the Evangelicals rant and rave from bullhorns throughout the countryside.
My eleven-year-old son goes to a local private school that is non-denominational. This however does not mean there is no religion in the school. In fact, his teacher has him learning The Ten Commandments and lectures on the tale of David and Goliath in his social studies class. Interesting, he enjoys his social studies more than any other subject and actual called the Bible "cool," which confirms the parenting philosophy that if you do not want your child to do something, force them to do that very thing. All in all my son’s fascination with the theological is not a bad thing, as I often have felt that the separation of church and state can lead to a sort of dangerous ignorance as to the religions of the world. But of course to have a "Religion" class in US elementary public schools would be a quite controversial.
The other religious aspect of his school day is a moment of prayer at the beginning of the day. Here is where things are sorted out with the Evangelicals putting their hands together in prayer and the Catholics crossing themselves. My son, baptized into the Lutheran faith by his grandfather at Yosemite Falls, brought up in a not so church going family, had to decide which side of the fence he was on. A child of constant movement from the moment he saw the light of the day, he by instinct went the Catholic route and crossed himself. While his ancestor Lutheran ministers on his mother’s side, were probably rolling over in their graves, I can give them the solace that perhaps he is simply living out the Protestant Reformation within his own life span – you mean the priest has a direct line and I don’t – man, that sucks!
Meanwhile, when a book fair came to town recently, I bought a beautiful leather-bound, used English Bible. I am thinking that I need to re-read some of the Old Testament. I still can’t believe that in Genesis there is no mention of Phil Collins.
Gallery:
Kai - Age 11
|
Add Comments +
|
 |
|
RECENT ESSAYS:
By Paul Lyons
April - 2006
Shopping in San Pedro
4/15/2006 10:07:38 AM
The Rooster
4/17/2006 3:56:27 PM
Agua Tibia
4/24/2006 8:45:36 AM
Climbing Tajumulco
4/26/2006 5:18:30 PM
Champerico
4/27/2006 9:54:56 AM
May - 2006
Leonel Zolorsano Wins
Taxi Driver of the Year Award
5/12/2006 11:27:10 AM
Remembering Tikal
5/15/2006 9:40:27 AM
Pelican Café Spanish Institute
5/24/2006 9:43:50 PM
June - 2006
If You Need Me, I’m at the Shop
6/1/2006 8:45:09 AM
Finca Niagra #57
6/12/2006 6:45:53 AM
World Cup Report – Part 1
6/14/2006 7:36:14 AM
» How My Son Was
Converted to Catholicism
6/15/2006 6:11:52 PM
The Rainy Season
6/16/2006 8:42:20 AM
World Cup Report – Part 2
6/20/2006 11:46:47 AM
July - 2006
The Hungry Cyclist
7/3/2006 9:47:58 AM
World Cup Report – Part 3
7/10/2006 8:22:28 AM
Tikal Revisited
7/10/2006 7:10:35 PM
Great-tailed Grackle
7/13/2006 8:38:51 AM
Only the Essentials
7/28/2006 12:21:08 PM
August - 2006
Antigua Café – Not in Antigua
8/3/2006 8:13:50 AM
La Castalia
8/3/2006 9:12:05 AM
The Virgin Guadalupe and I
8/11/2006 9:13:38 AM
Dogs in Guatemala
8/28/2006 10:48:04 AM
Surfing El Paredon
8/30/2006 8:54:47 PM
September - 2006
Intervida
9/7/2006 4:56:30 AM
Bookish
9/14/2006 6:31:45 AM
Reflections on Guatemalan Independence
9/18/2006 7:29:46 PM
October - 2006
The Black Cat – Antigua
10/11/2006 10:30:01 PM
Shoe Shine – Dos Quetzales
10/12/2006 10:05:32 AM
La Democracia
10/14/2006 12:09:59 PM
The Sporting Scene
10/20/2006 6:52:33 AM
November - 2006
A Day in Comitancillo
11/8/2006 1:47:39 PM
Lake Atitlan
11/21/2006 7:27:02 AM
Road Work
11/22/2006 6:45:19 AM
The Chicken Lady
11/23/2006 6:06:32 AM
Moses at the Supermarq
11/28/2006 7:08:30 PM
December - 2006
Centro Recreativo Nuevo San Rafael
12/2/2006 10:24:46 AM
Climbing Tajumulco – Part 2
12/3/2006 9:56:17 AM
The Music Police
12/5/2006 7:01:57 AM
Ropa Americana
12/24/2006 8:37:54 AM
Climbing Tajumulco – Part 3
12/24/2006 8:39:21 AM
January - 2007
Semuc Champey
1/3/2007 3:09:16 PM
Leaving Guatemala
1/3/2007 3:09:51 PM
|
ABOUT THE PELICAN CAFE |
PRIVACY POLICY |
PASSWORD HELP |
LOG OUT
