The Life of a Minority

Ever since moving to the island of Puerto Rico, I have found an interest in Catholicism and La Plazas de Puerto Rico. I first want to explain what a ‘La Plaza’ is so one is able to follow closely. In each town in Puerto Rico there is something called La Plaza. This is a large open platform usually consisting of concrete and other  stone. It is located in the center of the town. Larger cities, such as San Juan have many plazas. The plaza is surrounded by four one way streets. Across those streets are little shops and boutiques. It is a real sight to see.

The most intriguing thing is that at the head of each Plaza in PR, there is a giant Catholic church. They look different in each town. The inside of each church is different. But the common and central point for each plaza is that towering Catholic church. 

Now, I am not a bible thumper. I was raised in a Southern Baptist home and my mother wanted us kids to go to church when we were younger to instill some sort of morals and value. When we old enough to decide for ourselves, we could either choose to keep attending or not. She never forced us. 

As an adult, I am not sure what I believe. I know that there several possibilities to the creation and destruction of life. I could go the scientific route and say that human evolved over time from bacteria, primates or whatever. It’s possible. Or, I could go the religious route and say that we were formed and put on Earth by one single creator. That’s possible too. 

I don’t want to go into too much, just know that even though I feel that anything is possible, I don’t know if there is a God or not, I just live my life as there is one and treat other how I wish to be treated.

Back to my story. 

In every single plaza there is this giant Catholic church. I began to wonder one day, why not a Presbyterian church? Jehovah’s Witness? Latter Day Saints? Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal? Why not any of these churches? Why only a Catholic one? 

I understand that the majority of the people on the island are Catholic, but there are other denominations and religions too. Why force this?

I wanted to create a picture book once. I wanted to go to each town and take pictures of the plaza, inside and the outside of the churches. For now, that will have to wait. 

But look for it in the coming years. 

As I leave this evening, ask yourself some questions. Do you like others to force religion on you? If you are religious, what about others forcing their religion if it differs from your own? And why, just why am I forced to look at something day after day without any input?

I guess this is what it was like in ancient Rome.