Mulder 6, 7

How do Latino congregations build and deploy social capital? To what extent is this distinctive of American Protestantism? How do Latino Protestants compare to Latino Catholics in this regard?

This forum is open for credit until M 3/19.

A lot of social capital in Latino congregations is "spent" on civic issues like socioeconomic issues and unfairness in their communities. Latino churches emphasize the need to help the underprivileged in their community and aid them with things like food, shelter, jobs, and inclusion. Also falling under this umbrella is the political involvement linked to those civic issues. It is social responsibility that leads members of Latino congregations to grow involved in the changing of current law/political environment that treats underprivileged Latinos poorly.

I agree that Latino congregations emphasize the need to help the underprivileged in their community. It seperates them from Latino Catholics because, as a Christian, I can say the Catholic Church is all about money and collecting what they can gte for who knows what. This group of people in the Latino Protestants seem to want to help their community to the highest extent possible. I also believe that this brings a sense of togetherness in the community and will drive more people to attend this types of Churches, expanding its popularity.

I agree with you when you input how Catholic churches are all about money. Being part of a Catholic church, the ushers walk down the pews with baskets asking for money to benefit the church facility. I do wonder where that money actually goes towards as well. I haven't seen any new items in the church for quite some time. I believe that the Latino congregations is a genuine group whom unites individuals together to expand their culture for everyone.

I agree with your response very often churches forget their values and who they are really suppose to serve and that is the people. They get so caught up and many are forgotten or ashamed to ask the church for assistance. The Latino Catholics appear to have a negative impact on overs especially where financial assistance is required.

I agree. The Latino Protestant congregations provide social services and welfare overwhelmingly compared to Catholics. Many of these congregations beacome a force in their community and local governments. These acts perhaps say nothing about Protestantism, but about a Latin congregations commientmant to provide to the best of their abilities services to the sometimes underprivileged and forgetting Latin community.

Latino congregations are doing their community a service to help unite one another because it offers help to the people that need it the most. In my opinion this is what religion should do all along. Help one another in a time of need by providing things such as food or shelter to the best of their ability. It helps draw the community together and gives eachother a sense of belonging.

while I agree religious institutions should do what they can to give back to the community, your claim that "this is what religion should do all along" requires some examination. Giving back to the community makes sense if part of your religious identity is invested in helping others. However, religion is not necessarily rooted in ideas of altruism, so being religious is not necessarily synonymous with giving back the community. In addition, I do not think churches are necessarily the best equipped to be "giving back" as many religions will take issue with certain groups and/or withhold aid on condition of some religious conversion. If religion is all about helping each other, I would assert that other social institutions may be better equipped to suit this purpose.

I have to agree with Shoshana's comment more because then the religions or churches with more resources can be selective of who they want to service. they are not a public institution that has to supplement what the government has to provide equally to everyone. so, that would potentially worsen the race, class, gender etc. issues that exist in society.

I agree with your point of views. Latino congregations are trying to reach as many groups as possible. It is so important to have more people to participate in the community. On the one hand, people are working together and helping each other in the church. They are sharing foods or holding events with people who have same religion beliefs as them.

Latino congregations build and deploy social capital by engaging politically and engaging within their communities. Serving the needs of the congregants outside of the religious space. They provide services like child care services, immigration, immigration lawyers, education, natural disaster relief, and a plethora of other things. And because the church engages with the community the way they do it becomes a form of politics. In the reading and in class, it was mentioned that white Protestants and Latino Catholics do not service their communities as much as Latino Protestants because residential and class segregation effects all their needs.

I totally agree with you. I like what you say it provides services such as child care services, education and natural disaster relief. In my perspective, I think church is more than just a meeting. It is about a community where can develop love and build relationship with people. People are attending to the church, because it provides useful indicator of overall religious commitment among Latinos.

I also agree with you point of view and I think church can provide a sense of peace for the masses and educated the public about issue that regarding the problems that they must face. This is a key point for how Latino congregations build and deploy social capital and I believe that how so many Latinos converted into Protestants.

I can relate to this coming from a Jewish community,as my synagogue offers all different kinds of services and organizations. These organizations give back to my community,which gives a sense of unity.We have all kinds of organizations that work at giving back to the needy,helping the elderly,visiting holocaust survivors etc.It gives me a sense of family and unity.

Latinos congregations build or deploy social capital by being involved politically and socially.The congregation does include different services of education,financial issues,shelter,individual care.Latino Protestants differ from Latino Catholics in terms of the services they provide and the care they show for their community/members.Latino Catholics serve their community differently and are less involved in social or economic that it's members are dealing with.I believe being involved with your members and giving back to the church portrays an image of kindness and openness as a church.More people might want to be involved in a church that offers such services.

I totally agree with you on the fact that "I believe being involved with your members and giving back to the church portrays an image of kindness and openness as a church. More people might want to be involved in a church that offers such services." I feel like without this, the church, I think, loses its kindness and openness to the community.

I agree with if you're more involved with your members and show kindness and openness then more people will want to participate in that particular faith. Many people use religion as a coping method and to believe there is a reason for why things happen in the world, that requires feeling like you are in a safe place. When people are open to your voice, it will make you want to be a part of that.

I agree, the more interactive the church is with it’s community, by being considerate and compassionate of its members will definitely be more inviting to more people. Also, a church that conveniently hold these services under the same roof where one worships will attract members because they will not have to seek these services elsewhere.

Congregations play a specific role in providing a variety of different resources by politically engaging within in different communities this allows them to deploy social capitial. As the member of the group and the church itself continue to build on going and steady relationships through engagement in a political way. =Furthermore, in the text is it stated that Latino Catholics do not really provide as much services and needs as the Latino protestants do, and this all falls down under the idea of where they stand within their social class. Congregations are providing services to those who are in the most need, therefore they try to reach out to as many communities as they can which demonstrates a strong religious devotion.

Latino congregations have during that time tend to use the income produced expended on political issues like socioeconomic issues and inequitableness in their communities. Latino congregations emphasize the need to help the underprivileged in their population. Latino groups build and deployed this “social capital” by engaging politically and engaging within their communities. Serving the needs of the congregants outside of the “sacred space.” These organizations give back to the community, which offers a sense of union. Furthermore, in the text is it stated that Latino Catholics do not provide as much services and necessities as the Latino Protestants do, and this all falls under the idea of where they stand within their social class.

I think it's important that you noted how Latino Protestants created a sense of unity through giving back to their community, as this is something I think sets them apart from many Catholic churches. Instead of just attending mass and leaving, their work extends beyond their sacred space and in that way causes solidarity. It provides people with the opportunity to do something bigger for the community with people that share their same faith and that also adds to their social capital.

In comparison to Latino Catholics, Latino Protestants are a lot more politically engaged. Latino Protestants are provided with more opportunities to build and deploy social capital to help underprivileged individuals in their communities. This can also be linked to the history of when Protestants were attempting to convert Latinos, since Protestants were more readily able to provide Latinos with services that the Catholic church weren't providing them with. I think that history has continued on into efforts that don't just include their own congregants, but beyond that into social issues that impact a wider group of individuals.

Latino Protestant churches are the providers of a majority of the services that Latino Catholics need, such as education, shelter, disaster relief, financial issues, and individual care. By providing these services, these churches are giving back to their community, as Shoshana said. This is also a major way in which Latinos are building "social capital". The deployment of "social capital" comes for the Latino Catholic churches because since they don't provide as much services as Latino Protestant ones, those who were once Catholic are now Protestant, and thus they lose lots of members.

Latino congregations build social capital by being politically and socially engaged within the community. Latino Protestants are more willing to provide services to the people rather than Catholics. There are fewer services and a lack of open arms within the Latino Catholic community. On the other hand, Latino Protestants are helping through education, shelter, financial services, as well as emotional and physical wellbeing. There is a vast difference between Latino Protestants and Latino Catholics and people are able to turn to which best fits their necessities.

In my perspective, Latino Protestant congregations use their influence to get more followers to join them and therefore offer more service that interest the Latino population. In order to convert Latino Catholics into Protestants, congregations offers languages lessons, financial support or others similar services to help cope the stress that these Latinos faced.

Latino Congregations build social capital by providing a network of people to help its congregants. Such networks help with financial, educational or political needs/interests.This is one feature that differentiates American Protestantism, from Catholicism. Whether the resources are provided by Angelo Protestants or Latino Protestants, services are offered to help congregants prosper. The Catholic Church had never really worked to help serve its people, in any needs, spiritual, educational, political or financial.

Latino congregations build and deploy social capital by allowing and accepting religious diversity and networks into their communities. networks help establish and develop stronger political interest, stabilize financial aspects, and create more learning opportunities for children attending schools etc.

Latino congregations build social capital by giving their members a sense of belonging in a community where they're a minority. They provide social and spiritual support to their members. The way in which White Protestants and Latino Catholics worship and build social capital varies between these churches. Latino Protestants are more likely to reach out to other religious groups to bring them together in order to do the good work. Latino Catholics and White Protests are mostly exclusive in the congregation.

Latino congregations build and deploy social capital by offering social services to their very own community. Latino protestants extends help beyond the church as they offer support in immigration status services, legal advice, computer services, English classes etc. Their engagement with the community differs from the Latino Catholic community, where not much social services are offered.

Latino congregations used networking to close the gap on communication barriers and offered services within their communities such as education, learning the English language and allowing them to feel sacred while practicing their faith. The Protestant used their political and financial influences as a driving force using social capital.

Latino in the USA means that you are from Latin America or are of Latin American descent. Any race can be considered Latin American. Latino congregations help assist political needs and services as well as building upon social capital by participating socially and politically. Congregations also play a role in solidarity as groups are engaging with one another toward a particular goal Latino Protestants are helping to assist education, shelter, financially physical well being as well.