Pentecostalism found fertile ground among marginalized communities in both Cuba and Puerto Rico, characterized by its fundamentalist theology and initial political disengagement. However, the Cuban Revolution of 1959 catalyzed a unique divergence. While Cuban Pentecostalism was forced into relative obscurity under state atheism, it later experienced a resurgence in the 1990s, influenced by economic crises and shifting government policies. In contrast, Puerto Rican Pentecostal churches aligned with Cold War ideological frameworks, increasingly participating in political discourse and public policy debates.
The poster employs a series of visual elements to illustrate these transformations. Comparative infographics will showcase membership growth, theological trends, and church-state relations in both territories. Historical photographs and primary source excerpts will depict Pentecostal leaders’ responses to political change. A timeline will chart key moments in the evolution of Cuban and Puerto Rican Pentecostalism, highlighting points of convergence and divergence.
Through this visual and historiographical approach, the poster argues that Pentecostalism’s evolving political role in both settings challenges conventional narratives of secularization. It underscores how the movement navigated repression, adaptation, and political engagement in two starkly different governance structures—one communist, the other capitalist-colonial. This study contributes to broader discussions on religion’s place in Caribbean political and social transformations.