A Study of Haitian Mormon Converts Dwelling in New York City: A Cross-Cultural Perspective in Understanding, Interpreting, and Experiencing the Mormon Subculture

• Main Author: Milien, Yvon
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 1997
• Subjects: Mormon converts; New York State; New York; Haitians; Religious life; Religion; culture; Mormon Studies; Sociology
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4943; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5942&context=etd

This thesis examines the roles played by understanding, interpretation of practices, and experience in Mormon culture when Haitians convert to Mormonism. In relationship to their previous cultural practices, this thesis explores whether Haitian converts develop one of three types of behaviors: discard old practices, retain elements of old practices, or seek to establish a balance between former and new religious practices. In-depth interviews with twelve subjects living in New York City suggest that most active converts discarded their old cultural traditions. This study suggests that only interpretation influences developing types of behavior. However, it was not expected that most converts would fit in Mormon culture. Because of this new finding, this thesis shifted to explaining why Haitians are so readily assimilated into Mormon culture.