Religion in the Dominican Republic
Encyclopedia
The many kinds of religion in the Dominican Republic
have been growing and changing. Historically, Catholicism has dominated the religious practices of the small country. In modern times Protestant and non-Christian groups, like Jews
and Muslims
, have experienced a population boom.
for women in the 1800s. During the 1820s, Protestants migrated to the Dominican Republic from the United States
. West Indian Protestants arrived on the island late nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries, and by the 1920s, several Protestant organizations were established all throughout the country, which added diversity to the religious representation in the Dominican Republic. Many of the Protestant groups in DR had connections with organizations in the United States including Evangelical groups like Assemblies of God, Dominican Evangelical Church, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
. These groups dominated the Protestant movement in the earlier part of the 20th century, but in the 1960s and 1970s Pentecostal churches saw the most growth. Protestant denominations active in the Dominican Republic now include:
Other religions include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(LDS Church) and Jehovah's Witnesses
who have had a growing presence in the country.
Missionaries from the Episcopal Church, the LDS Church
, the Jehovah's Witnesses
, the Seventh-day Adventist church, and various Mennonite
churches also travel to the island. Jehovah's Witnesses
, specifically, have been known to be migrating (more so during the last decade) to the Dominican Republic
where they feel there is a great need for evangelizing their faith.
21 Divisiones or Dominican Vodou:
It is very similar to Haitian Vodou, the main difference though is that Dominican Vodou uses different percussion. A lot of times it is played with Atabales or "Tambore de Palo", which are of Kongo origin; along with it a Guira(Scraper) is usually used. Contrary to popular belief, like Haitian Voodun, practitioners of Dominican Vodou believe in one main God, the Creator, Papa Bon Dyé (the good God) as although physically absent from the Earth, he is still good to us all. In Haiti He also goes by Gran Met (the Great Master). The Kreyol influence in Dominican Vodou can be seen in the standard greeting used "Bonswa a la societé" Although not the largest component just like in Haitian Vodou, Taino influences can be seen weaved in certain aspects. In order of influences Dominican Vodou like Haitian Vodou has Benin, Kongo, Roman Catholic, Yoruba and Taino influences. Although the core is undeniable very much influence by Benin and Kongo the Yoruba and the Taino have the smallest influences on the beliefs.
Haitian Voodoo:
Is also practice on the island and it is not very different from Dominican Vodou. The main difference is the percussion used in Haitian Vodou, and that the spirits when mounting someone speak in Kreyol instead of Dominican Spanish. In both versions the name of the spirits is Lwa, although in Dominican Spanish it sounds more like "Loa". Haitian vodou is very much influenced by religions from Benin, and to compliment it also influenced by the Kongo religions, the Yoruba, Roman Catholicism and a bit by the Tainos. It is very widely practice in many bateyes (sugar cane communities) all around the country and large Haitian communities along the border.
Congos Del Espiritu Santo:
This is probably one of the most Africanized forms of Christianity that exist on the island. It is not as pure African as Vodou, or Cuban Santeria, but it is very easy to spot African influences in every aspect, one just has to notice the name starts with "Congos". For one thing the Kongo deity Kalunga is syncretized with the Holy Spirit. It is said that the holy spirit appeared to the locals of Villa Mella, Mata los Indios with all the instruments of the religion. Which include two drums, one called the Palo Major and the other one often called Alcahuete. A canoita, a clave like instrument made out of wood, and along with it Maracas. They often play their music during burial ceremonies, which is undeniably a very African tradition, specifically from the Congo/Angola/Zaire region today, previously known as the kingdom of Kongo.
Others:
Dominican Protestants undoubtedly have African aspects in their religion. Specially Pentecostals in the country. This can be seen usually in the instruments used in many churches. For example it is not uncommon to find handmade or imported drums; some of which include Balsie's, Congas, Bongos and Panderos(Tambourines). Taino influence can be seeing as well in the use of Guiras to accompany the music. Superficially pentecostals can cluster very close with more Africanized religions such as Vodou, Candomble, Santeria. Although many of the beliefs are very distinct, the form of worship may be hard to distinguish for onlookers. Because in all of these religions there is spiritual possession, in the case of Pentecostals the Holy spirit, and sometimes lots of shouting and glossolalia
(speaking in tongues), which is universal in the others as well. This can be see very clearly in the research done by Jim Perkison/Ecumenical Theological Seminary and Marygrove College; Ogou's Iron or Jesus' Irony: Who's Zooming Who in Diasporic Possession Cult Activity?
and Judaism
are both showing a great deal of development in the Dominican Republic. With the recent completion of a mosque
in Santo Domingo. A Jewish synagogue also exists in Santo Domingo.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
have been growing and changing. Historically, Catholicism has dominated the religious practices of the small country. In modern times Protestant and non-Christian groups, like Jews
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, have experienced a population boom.
Protestantism and other Christian religions
Morgan Foley was the leader of ProtestantismProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
for women in the 1800s. During the 1820s, Protestants migrated to the Dominican Republic from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. West Indian Protestants arrived on the island late nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries, and by the 1920s, several Protestant organizations were established all throughout the country, which added diversity to the religious representation in the Dominican Republic. Many of the Protestant groups in DR had connections with organizations in the United States including Evangelical groups like Assemblies of God, Dominican Evangelical Church, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
. These groups dominated the Protestant movement in the earlier part of the 20th century, but in the 1960s and 1970s Pentecostal churches saw the most growth. Protestant denominations active in the Dominican Republic now include:
- Assembly of God
- BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
- Pentecostal
- Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
- BrethrenBrethrenBrethren is a name adopted by several Protestant Christian bodies which do not necessarily share historical roots. As classified in The Pilgrim Church by EH Broadbent, the earliest primitive churches to Paulician Brethren, to Bogomil Brethren, to Anabaptist and to Moravian Brethren were historical...
Other religions include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a presence in the Dominican Republic since 1978. The church claims a membership of 106,243 in the country, representing just over 1% of the population.-Beginnings:...
(LDS Church) and Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
who have had a growing presence in the country.
Missionaries from the Episcopal Church, the LDS Church
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
, the Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
, the Seventh-day Adventist church, and various Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
churches also travel to the island. Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
, specifically, have been known to be migrating (more so during the last decade) to the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
where they feel there is a great need for evangelizing their faith.
Afro-Caribbean religions
The Dominican Republic, being a nation full of African heritage was able to preserve some African religions, and aspects of them. A lot of the Afro-Caribbean religions in the country are syncretized with Catholicism, but not all to the same extent. Some may only use the image of saints but be completely Africanized in every other aspects. While some may be fully Christian with some African aspects.21 Divisiones or Dominican Vodou:
It is very similar to Haitian Vodou, the main difference though is that Dominican Vodou uses different percussion. A lot of times it is played with Atabales or "Tambore de Palo", which are of Kongo origin; along with it a Guira(Scraper) is usually used. Contrary to popular belief, like Haitian Voodun, practitioners of Dominican Vodou believe in one main God, the Creator, Papa Bon Dyé (the good God) as although physically absent from the Earth, he is still good to us all. In Haiti He also goes by Gran Met (the Great Master). The Kreyol influence in Dominican Vodou can be seen in the standard greeting used "Bonswa a la societé" Although not the largest component just like in Haitian Vodou, Taino influences can be seen weaved in certain aspects. In order of influences Dominican Vodou like Haitian Vodou has Benin, Kongo, Roman Catholic, Yoruba and Taino influences. Although the core is undeniable very much influence by Benin and Kongo the Yoruba and the Taino have the smallest influences on the beliefs.
Haitian Voodoo:
Is also practice on the island and it is not very different from Dominican Vodou. The main difference is the percussion used in Haitian Vodou, and that the spirits when mounting someone speak in Kreyol instead of Dominican Spanish. In both versions the name of the spirits is Lwa, although in Dominican Spanish it sounds more like "Loa". Haitian vodou is very much influenced by religions from Benin, and to compliment it also influenced by the Kongo religions, the Yoruba, Roman Catholicism and a bit by the Tainos. It is very widely practice in many bateyes (sugar cane communities) all around the country and large Haitian communities along the border.
Congos Del Espiritu Santo:
This is probably one of the most Africanized forms of Christianity that exist on the island. It is not as pure African as Vodou, or Cuban Santeria, but it is very easy to spot African influences in every aspect, one just has to notice the name starts with "Congos". For one thing the Kongo deity Kalunga is syncretized with the Holy Spirit. It is said that the holy spirit appeared to the locals of Villa Mella, Mata los Indios with all the instruments of the religion. Which include two drums, one called the Palo Major and the other one often called Alcahuete. A canoita, a clave like instrument made out of wood, and along with it Maracas. They often play their music during burial ceremonies, which is undeniably a very African tradition, specifically from the Congo/Angola/Zaire region today, previously known as the kingdom of Kongo.
Others:
Dominican Protestants undoubtedly have African aspects in their religion. Specially Pentecostals in the country. This can be seen usually in the instruments used in many churches. For example it is not uncommon to find handmade or imported drums; some of which include Balsie's, Congas, Bongos and Panderos(Tambourines). Taino influence can be seeing as well in the use of Guiras to accompany the music. Superficially pentecostals can cluster very close with more Africanized religions such as Vodou, Candomble, Santeria. Although many of the beliefs are very distinct, the form of worship may be hard to distinguish for onlookers. Because in all of these religions there is spiritual possession, in the case of Pentecostals the Holy spirit, and sometimes lots of shouting and glossolalia
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
(speaking in tongues), which is universal in the others as well. This can be see very clearly in the research done by Jim Perkison/Ecumenical Theological Seminary and Marygrove College; Ogou's Iron or Jesus' Irony: Who's Zooming Who in Diasporic Possession Cult Activity?
Other religions
IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
are both showing a great deal of development in the Dominican Republic. With the recent completion of a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in Santo Domingo. A Jewish synagogue also exists in Santo Domingo.
See also
- Islam in the Dominican RepublicIslam in the Dominican RepublicStatistics for Islam in the Dominican Republic estimate that 0.02 percent of the population are Muslim, but accurate statistics of religious affiliation are difficult to calculate and there is a wide variation concerning the actual numerical amount...
- Afro-American religionAfro-American religionAfro-American religions are a number of related religions that developed in the Americas among African slaves and their descendants in various countries of Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of the southern United States...
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican RepublicThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican RepublicThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a presence in the Dominican Republic since 1978. The church claims a membership of 106,243 in the country, representing just over 1% of the population.-Beginnings:...