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Denomination recognition through decor

"Have you noticed how you can tell which denomination a church belongs to by the similarity of its decorating style to those of denominations back home?" Dan asked as we stepped into an Apostolic Church. I hadn't, but once he pointed it out, I began to see what he was talking about.

What I had noticed was that Kingdom Halls of the Jehovah's Witnesses (who have made it nearly as far into the bush as Bekondo) have the same plain, nearly windowless, rectangular-box look out here as they do at home.

Baptist churches are plain structures: rectangular buildings with pitched roofs. Simple and functional.

Presbyterian churches are not ornate stone cathedrals like First Presbyterian or Westminster United in Winnipeg, but are aesthetically pleasing structures with solid walls, usually a bell-tower, and some detail. They also have a raised pulpit and a lectionary.

I haven't been in any Catholic churches here, but from the outside they are the nicest looking buildings around. Very solid, well-built structures, with effort invested in making them look like honoured buildings of worship.

Lutheran churches are attractive and church-looking but understated at the same time.

And the Apostolic Church looked just like any stereotypical charismatic church in North America, complete with coloured curtains as a backdrop, and a band featuring drums, bass guitar and occasional trumpet to the side of the stage. Dan observed they also have the lowest pitched roofs, reminiscent of the North American warehouse style church.

It's an amusing phenomenon to observe, but I think it sad that missionaries have inadvertently (I hope!) transmitted so many cultural aspects of our worship to the believers in Cameroon. There's enough baggage to overcome in attempting to live lives surrendered to Christ without having someone else's added to the burden.

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March 28, 2008 at 6:37 AM
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