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Gifford when commenting on the public role of the African Pentecostal churches notes that they can play a role in breaking down the ethnic barriers as the intensity of \u2018conversion\u2019 confers a new identity which transcends other identities. Later he emphasizes that this identity can help to promote democratic virtues like tolerance, respect, moderation, cooperation and commitment (1998: 347). In this same line of thought Freston says that Evangelical conversion \u2018involves making a profound break with cultural patterns of relationships between the sexes\u2019 which is an important dimension of democratization (2001: 304).\u000AThis effect can also be transferred to overcoming certain racial barriers in the Guatemalan context. It can also be said however that the rejection of the NPL of \u2018indigenous customs and idolatries\u2019 could harm their appreciation about their culture, and could create in the future, a certain amount of conflict with the indigenous communities. This could be true especially in the light of the indigenous claims to their ancestral rights that imply the preservation of places, cults and customs that the Neo-Pentecostals resist. Gifford sees the same danger in the African Pentecostals that demonize Islam (1998: 347).\u000ACant\u00F3n affirms that idolatry places the indigenous people under fire of the Evangelicals and the military. She underlines that Evangelicals centre their attack on idolatry attacking both the Catholics and specially the Mayan traditions. The middle class NPL say that the indigenous people are responsible for the curse which weighs over the country because of their idolatry. She affirms, \u2018It is the great paradox that the underdogs who as the principle victims are seen as those who are largely responsible\u2019 (1998: 233).\u000ASimilox from a different angle states about the Evangelicals that Protestantism has been in conflict with and destroyed Mayan traditions (cited in Solares, 1993:120-21). The supposition behind evangelism is to take them out of idolatry and convert them to the new faith. He emphasizes the damages caused by Protestantism to the indigenous communities, but he does not mention its contribution. Other Evangelicals from different indigenous communities, as has been already stated, testify to the benefits they have received from the\u000A298\u000A