The growth of LA as a religious hub in the US can be attributed to the high number of immigrants who chose to settle in the city. Almost all religions are represented in LA with minority communities playing a significant role in the establishment of distinct religious practices as well as institutions. The high number of churches established by different ethnic groups also explains the reason why LA is diverse regarding cultural divisions.
Los Angeles is often described as a city with no ethnic majority because of the influence of various religious groups. Even the minority groups such as the Latino have changed the religious landscape of Los Angeles by contributing greatly to the growth of the Catholic Church. Religion in Los Angeles has stood out to be a powerful tool through which family life, political activities, and other social undertakings are founded on. Religion in LA became a critical component of the rapid growth of the city when religious institutions were concerned with matters of racial discrimination, differences in class, gender, education and environmental sustainability. Moreover, religious institutions had a great influence on the political situations in LA as well as social programs such as public health care. The fact that religion contributes greatly to political situations in LA means that even the minority groups have a significant role to play in the future of LA.
Immigrants have also changed the religious landscape of LA by adding to the number of denominations that contributed to major changes such as the growth of Mormons and Jehovah Witness denominations. Between 1890 and 1940 as argued by , the population of religious congregation grew from 18,229 to 427,348 hence proving the extent to which religion was transforming LA. Religious congregations such as the First African Methodist Episcopal and its splitting into the People’s Independent Church of Christ became popular in LA where the churches assured common people that it was there to improve their welfare. Church leaders played a major role in influencing opinions of the public with decisions such as the need to Americanize immigrants being among the major approval programs contributed to by the church. Congregations such as the Ku Klux Klan also emerged basically as a way of fighting against the growing influence of Roman Catholic and immigrants religions. It is the residential segregation practices that however led to the distribution of religious settings all over LA.
Synagogues, temples, and churches were spread in LA with Christians opposing residential segregation since they wanted more churches to be established in specific neighborhoods. However, the move to establish churches in specific neighborhoods contributed to racial discrimination where the people of color were religiously oppressed. There were several implications of such racial prejudices among them the emergence of violence with minorities trying to fight against oppression. There were various denominations keen to support immigration into the United States so that they could have huge followers who could be influenced to adopt the culture of various denominations. Major antagonism was witnessed in Los Angeles where groups such as the Ku Klux Klan felt the need to suppress religious dominance from non-whites whom the majority like the Latinos had embraced Roman Catholic. The religious divisions in LA, therefore, led to initiatives such as ‘Heal LA’ that were centered on solving long-standing religious divisions witnessed in LA. Many believe that LA has a complex spiritual life characterized by multiple denominations and religious festivals. LA according to Braudy (2), is a city which displays a unique interplay of unity and diversity since various religious denominations are represented by different ethnic communities who all meet at their places of worship to preach the need for peaceful co-existence. According to Davis (97), poor blacks, whites, Mexicans and Filipinos gathered in churches to pray hence proving the unity that religion brought among the minority and those who lived in poverty. Pentecostalism in LA also led to various prophesies that were majorly focused on making the people aware of the need to accept Christ to avoid God’s wrath falling on LA. Men and women gathering in churches would, therefore, pray their ‘hearts out’ under the leadership of William Joseph, who was active in assuring his flocks that God would manifest in them through ‘signs and wonders’. The leadership of William, therefore, led to people in congregation praying from morning till evening the same way modern churches behave.
However, Pentecostalism did not go well with everyone since majority felt that it was a primitive emulation of Christianity and that their actions were too subversive. However, low-class people from all races were supportive of the Pentecostal preaching’s since they felt that they were the ones being addressed by the scriptures. (Davis, 98). Major sermons in LA were focused on bringing together both whites and non-white denominations with parables and verses being used to support the need for integration. “How is it possible to pretend to worship one of the greatest Jews who ever lived, Jesus Christ, and then to despise all living Jews.” Such sermons were among the many that were delivered mainly to the Ku Klux Klan, who stressed the need for religious differences by emphasizing the need for whites congregating with minorities. As argued by Braudy (2), Los Angeles is a city where one gets an opportunity to meet diverse groups such that the first timer in LA would be surprised by the way religious groups are distributed in LA. According to Braudy (2), religion in LA is what makes people different from one another while at the same time encouraging everyone to be better each day.
Braudy (2), stresses the fact that photos taken in LA could be confusing since several places resemble others in the Middle East, Spain, Mexico, India, and Japan. The confusion in differentiating between places in LA and other nations is generated by the fact that religious denominations represent immigrants from different countries. Everyone in LA wants their religious practices to be known as well as being felt like part of the larger LA. Religious practices in various streets of LA are focused on the need for people to accept Christianity and prepare for the coming of Christ. Previously, segregation was witnessed since while the minority gathered in the churches in unity, the whites had their religious practices. However, through sermons at the Angelus Temple, several whites who were among the congregation were convinced to break down the barrier of segregation and accept the minority groups.
Martinez (1), describes Latinos as a group that is willing to break ethnic prejudices by attending non-Latino churches. Such reactions are seen as best ways of maintaining social cohesion through religion. However, for some like the Hispanics, they are unwilling to be influenced into joining other minority groups in their churches which mean that Hispanics focus on creating their distinct religious practices. Moreover, Hispanics also feel the need to have their religious institutions so as to avoid the effect of secularism on its future generations.
The actions by Hispanics have also resulted into Latinos thinking otherwise on whether they should focus more on creating distinct religious practices. Latinos feel the need to protect its future generations from the effects of Americanization due to a high number of immigrants finding their way into America as well as protect its generations from secular influence. It is, therefore, evident that religious denominations in LA are still based on established ethnic identities such that each would want to establish their religious practices.
Works Cited
Braudy, Dorothy. "Artist’s Statement: SACRED LOS ANGELES." Journal of the American Academy of Religion (2013): 1-5. Document.
Davis, Mike. "L.A Pentecostal Earthquake." Grand Street (1999): 97-101. Document.
Engh, Michael. "A Multiplicity and Diversity of Faiths": Religion's Impact on Los Angeles and the Urban West UrbanWest, 1890-1940." The Western Historical Quarterly (1997): 463-492. Document.
Martinez, Juan. The Latino Church. California: Center for Religion and Civic Culture, 2012. Document.
Walker, Daniel. The Black Church: Challenges and Opportunities Facing African American Congregations in the 21st Century Los Angeles. California: Center for Religion and Civic Culture, 2012. Document.
