Protestantism in Puerto Rico
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2008-06-06T20:43:38Z
Carlaude
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moved [[Protestants in Puerto Rico]] to [[Protestantism in Puerto Rico]]: The article is not about (individual) Protestants in Puerto Rico
==History==
Before the island of [[Puerto Rico]] came under [[United States]] sovereignty in 1898, [[Protestantism]] was proscribed. In Montaña, [[Aguadilla, Puerto Rico|Aguadilla]], a group called "los bíblicos" met clandestinely under the direction of Antonio Badillo. Many freethinkers and Protestants belonged to [[Masonic]] lodges, as many in the older generation still do.
Soon after the change of sovereignty, United States [[Protestant]] [[Christian denomination|denomination]]s agreed to divide the island in order to facilitate [[missionary]] penetration. [[Presbyterian]]s, [[Methodist]]s, [[Baptist]]s, [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]]s and [[Disciples of Christ]] started the missionary work. While the [[President of the United States|President]] appointed the [[Governor of Puerto Rico|governors]], these denominations were influential in government policies. After the 1940s this changed; nevertheless Protestantism kept growing, particularly [[Pentecostalism]], which grew mostly among the poor and the rural.
== Institutions ==
Mainline Protestants started educational and health institutions. Presbyterians founded [[Interamerican University of Puerto Rico|InterAmerican University]] [http://www.iauniversity.net], with 11 campuses and 40,000 students, and Ashford Presbyterian Hospital in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]. [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]]s founded Adventist University near [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]]. An interdenominational Seminary, [http://netministries.org./see/charmin/CMO1399]Seminario Evangélico de Puerto Rico was begun in 1909. There is a Council of Churches, founded by the cooperating denominations of the original community agreement.
== Present situation ==
Estimates of the Protestant population vary greatly. The [[CIA factbook]], estimates that 85% of the population is [[Roman Catholic]] while the remaining 15% are Protestans and other religions. [[Pollster]] Pablo Ramos stated in 1998 that the population was 38% Roman Catholics, but 28% were Pentecostal, and 18% were members of independent churches. Protestants added up to almost two million out of 3.6 million. "The conclusion is that Puerto Rico is no longer predominantly Catholic." <ref>The San Juan Star, Sunday, [[12 April]] [[1998]]: "Study reflects growing numbers of churchgoers".</ref>
Another researcher gave a more conservative assessment of the proportion of Protestants: "Puerto Rico, by virtue of its long political association with the United States, is the most Protestant of Latin American countries, with a Protestant population of approximately 33 to 38 percent, the majority of whom are Pentecostal. David Stoll calculates that if we extrapolate the growth rates of evangelical churches from 1960-1985 for another twenty-five years Puerto Rico will become 75 percent evangelical."<ref>Ana Adams: "Brincando el Charco..." in Power, Politics and Pentecostals in Latin America, Edward Cleary, ed., 1997. p. 164.</ref>
== Bibliography ==
*Cardona, José A. Breve historia de la Iglesia Presbiteriana en Puerto Rico. Río Piedras, 1976.
*Rodríguez, Daniel R. La primera evangelización norteamericana en Puerto Rico, 1898-1930. México, D.F.: Ediciones Borinquen, 1986.
*Silva Gotay, Samuel. Protestantismo y Política en Puerto Rico. San Juan: Editorial Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1997.
{{North America in topic|Protestants in}}
==References==
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[[Category:Christianity in Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Protestantism by country|Puerto Rico]]