The Pentecostals

[Damaso]

It's hard for me to think about fundamentalist Christianity among Europeans. It really seems like an American phenomenon to me. Perhaps because I associate it with rural Southerners. They do it so convincingly (act as if they believe this stuff), that it's hard to imagine the same culture in Barcelona. Perhaps I'm stereotyping both the fundamentalists and the Europeans.

They are spreading throughout Europe (actually they've been in Europe since the mov't started in the early 20th century) and are the fastest growing sect. A lot of that growth comes from immigrants but many "native" Europeans are attracted to the concept of a personal relationship with God.

I too was surprised to find them there but that's why I love photography: my own assumptions are constantly being challenged!

 

[Damaso]

If you can tell from my name, I was brought up Christian 😛 and as a native Texan I have seen so much of this through my life it is nice to see someone capturing this from elsewhere in the world. While I no longer consider myself a "Christian believer" I completely identify with every one of your subjects. It is a beautiful set and deserves some more work. Hell, go back and shoot tons more! Like Bob M is doing, you could use some diversification in your shots and trying out different congregations could really visualize that.

My favorite shot of yours is the one with the young boy having hands laid upon him, I would love to see more of the younger part of the church and their visual experience in this crazy storm of pentacostal fervor. 😀

Keep up the great photojournalistic efforts Damaso!

Thanks! I do hope to spend some more time working on this when I go back to Spain in the fall, and hopefully in other parts of Europe too (can't wait to photograph Pentecostals in Sweden 😀). The younger part of the church is intriguing and something I may very well spend more time examining in the future....

 

[Damaso]

So I put together a little "experiment" using the audio, still and video (from my mobile phone) I collected during a large regional church meeting I attended the last weekend I was in town. I hope it gives you an even better sense of what it was like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbC9RkNJlBo

 

[christian.rudman]

I think the pentacostal Christians or any other branch of Christianity along with Islam, Hinduism, Shintoism etc is every beings business since the metaphysical belief systems and the culture that comes with it is human.

There is no special treatment for you...

Obviously you think highly enough of me to render special treatment. 🙂
Go cozy up with crawdiddy in the theology discussion forum, you two should get along fine.

Glad to hear Damaso, I was never aware of the Penecostal presence in Spain, thought that was a southern down-home phenomena.

 

[dave lackey]

I'm a native Texan. In high school, I went to an evangelical church with a friend, and I was amazed at the speaking in tongues. So, I have seen this stuff for myself firsthand.

Do I think all of the people participating actually believe that some "higher power" is speaking through them? No, I do not believe all of them believe it. I think many of them are pretending to believe. It's an act.

Howdy, Dan! Good to meet another Texan on here...

Speaking in tongues. No idea about the reality of it. All I know is the folks that I have known over the years take it as part of the fabric of their lives. But, then again, I have no way of knowing whether it is an act or not. If an act, it is still part of their makeup. 🙂 Interesting subject.

Now, those folks who handle snakes are something else again.:angel: My faith doesn't quite go that far.... I hate snakes. ...so, I don't think I will be a photojournalist for that group. Yikes.

 

[Instantclassic]

Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition, Christian 😉

All metaphysical systems claim the right cosmology.

However, I do like your project Damaso. The pictures are indeed very nice and remind me of the work the photographer Sune Jonsson did in Sweden almost 50 years ago. Look for the book "Sammankomst i elden".

 

[Damaso]

Thanks for the tip about the book!

 

[crawdiddy]

and what other people believe or dont is really none of your business anyhow.

That may be your opinion. Perhaps you actually believe that. I don't know for sure.

However, I am keenly interested in what people believe and don't believe, about many subjects. I consider it my business. And I'm skeptical enough to think people don't always tell the truth about what they truly believe. In fact, especially when it comes to religion, that may become an act of Faith in itself.

I love the photographic series, and I find it fascinating. I certainly did not intend to hijack the thread.

Many thanks to christian.rudman for keeping me on track. 🙄

 

[christian.rudman]

That's what I'm here for: Inquisitions and points. 😛