Greetings, A quick Internet search will reveal that this is a *very* quickly growing phenomenon and not just among the American Hispanic people named in the article below. It is not just a Christian phenomenon either. I am just wondering if there are any implications for us? The idea of home altars seems to be of interest to teens and the growing incidence of road-side shrines is probably linked in to satisfying whatever need or motivation is driving this.
Regards, Bruce *********************************************** National Catholic Reporter The Independent Newsweekly Family Life This week's stories Issue Date: November 14, 2003 http://www.ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2003d/111403/111403k.php Creating sacred space Altars in Hispanic homes have a long and rich history that feminists and new immigrants in the U.S. are reclaiming Altars in Hispanic homes testify to a centuries-old tradition that makes visible the link between the spiritual and the physical world. Combining crucifixes, statues of the Virgin Mary and saints with photos of family members who have passed away and objects associated with them, Hispanic home altars are about honoring family relationships and connecting the living with the dead, said scholar Lara Medina, assistant professor of Chicano and Chicano studies at California State University in Northridge. The popularity of home altars is undergoing a revival, Medina and other scholars say, driven by an influx of new immigrants from Latin America as well as the attention given them by Latina feminists, who see the home altar as a way a woman in a patriarchal culture �claims her authority to name the sacred,� as Medina puts it. Etc., etc. ************************************************* Bruce Mullan 12 Renfrew Drive Highland Park Qld 4211 Australia Office 61 7 3377 9737 Home 61 7 5574 8282 Fax 61 7 3871 0061 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------
