Pentecostal ReligionThe religion of the person that I interviewed is Puerto Rican born in America but considers himself to be full Puerto Rican. He was raised in the Pentecostal church, where now is a place where he preaches and teaches others about the Pentecostal religion. I had the chance to ask him several questions regarding the rules and beliefs of his faith. My interviewee explained the different rules Pentecostal puts upon women, men, and children. According to my interviewer, in his religion women are only allowed to wear skirts because the bible says that women cannot wear men’s clothing. The women also mainly do not cut their hair too short because they are supposed to look different from every other woman in the world. Women even generally do not dye their hair some might, but not all do. Also, women do not wear necklaces because years ago people used chains to control the slaves and for Pentecostal it symbolized slavery. They do not wear earrings because to wear them they would have to make holes in their ears to put them, and it can be considered self-mutilation.
According to my interviewee, men have different rules to obey inside the Pentecostal religion. For men, they must always wear long pants to church, never shorts because it is considered out of respect. Also, for the Pentecostal community men usually do not let their beards grow until they are married because then men are regarded with responsibilities as a husband and father. The rules for men as far as earrings and necklaces are the same for women, men are allowed to cut their hair because men must look respectable and presentable. The men are allow to dye their hair, unlike women who are not permitted. The rules for the children are the same as men and women. My interviewee explained how Pentecostal children are not baptized when they are babies instead they are baptized when they are older around the age of 12 or 13. For Pentecostals being baptized at the age12 or 13 symbolizes a renewal in Christ
QI.
Q. When I have a baby, is he ready for me or not after I am finished?
A. It is hard for me to speak more as I am older.
QI. I am married and have three children, are my husbands ready to continue to have children and is they ready to follow with me?
A. Yes, but after five years with no children, it is difficult to bring my husband a child at all with a divorce if he isn’t ready to follow one or the other way and are unable to obtain a baby at first.
QI. How long does it take for my husband and all his family to find what they want? Is there something I have to say, anything to say to make it happen?
A. Nothing, because if I say no to a request of my spouse I can only deny it. If I can, I will never go back or seek a divorce. If I can, then my ex is out to destroy my family and take that into the future in every way to protect them from those who will try and destroy his marriage or his future.
QI. How do I tell my wife if she is ready to make a request based off her request from my husband or is she in another marriage? Is there something I have to say to prove that.
A. I can give me evidence to prove that I am ready to consider raising my child for eternity in heaven, and I need not even think of sending him to heaven.
QI. I say, “Let’s start with my child, it’s my idea; give me my testimony,” but I can’t give more because I am pregnant with my first child and I need to raise more from then on. Is that something I can do?
A. Yes, but at this time there is no need for such proof.
QI. Is it possible that I might not have given as much, but I am preparing for my second one with my wife and will have children?
A. Yes; because we never discussed it with my wife. And there is no need to give any evidence.
QI. I ask my ex what he would do, would he not be good or would he give you some advice to help you?
A. Yes, but it is more difficult for me to say than to make them ready for me, just to give what I have done.
QI. Yes. However, I cannot take that advice and let your wife decide, you must have told me beforehand the fact that I didn’t feel what you should do without my permission. So I said: No, do what I said and wait for it. Then that must be understood and you must understand it.
QI. Did you have any kind of counseling like that before you gave birth? Yes, but it was too much for me.
A. It is also too much for our husband to try and take it. We had several psychological counseling sessions before we give birth and after raising it in heaven together we had no more problems with this.
QI. I can’t feel when our first child will be born because they are not ready for us. So your husband would ask you, What can you do during their pregnancy? Tell me.
A. Please, I would love to feel more comfortable with it.
QI. I was thinking that you