Brazil July 2010 (2)
Religion
Brazil (pop. 180 million) is known as the largest Catholic nation in the world. However, fast growth of evangelical and neopentecostal churches led to a growing share of non-catholic Christians in the population. It’s also widely known that self-declaring Catholics attend African cults like Candomblé (of Yoruba and Bantu origin, similar to Cuban Santería and Haitian Voodoo cults) or Umbanda (a made-in-Brazil blend of Candomblé and indigenous religious practices).
In 19th century Brazil was a monarchy – an empire – and Roman Catholicism was the official religion. In the second half of the century Protestant churches started sending missionaries. As a reward for British support of Independence from Portugal, Anglican ministers were allowed to join the English-speaking community. Soon came the Congregationalists, the first missionaries trying to reach native converts.
The first Presbyterian to come to Brazil was Ashbell Green Simonton. A Princeton alumnus, he arrived in Rio de Janeiro in August 12, 1859. In a few years he founded churches in Rio, São Paulo and Campinas, organizing a presbytery. He and his wife died still young, of tropical diseases that plagued the country.
Later came the Methodists, the Baptists, and the Lutherans following a wave of German immigrants South of the country.
In the early years of 20th century, two missionaries from Sweden founded the first Assemblies of God church in Belém do Pará, Amazon. This Pentecostal church spread among the poorest to become the largest evangelical denomination in Brazil and a popular reference of what evangelicals are like. Almost every town or village in Brazil has an Assemblies of God temple or fellowship.
Starting in the ‘80s, the great religious phenomenum in Brazil is indeed neopentecostal Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (Universal Kingdom of God Church). Combining promises of prosperity, vigorous spiritual war preaching and aggressive marketing strategies, leader Bishop Edir Macedo built a church model based on franchising. If a local temple doesn’t reach a target revenue in tithes and offerings, it’s closed, just like a MacDonald’s or Burger King restaurant. But most survive, and are all around in Brazil and abroad. Church money helped Macedo to buy Brazil’s no. 2 TV network, TV Record, now a defiant competitor of once monopolist Rede Globo.
A similar church is São Paulo-based Renascer em Cristo (Born in Christ Church), famous for its members (soccer star Kaká) and its pastors, convicted for trying to smuggle US$ 50,000 into USA, conveniently concealed in a Bible.
On the turn of the century, the country saw the multiplication of churches based on the small groups G-12 model, many of them stealing members from traditional established churches.
Brazil (pop. 180 million) is known as the largest Catholic nation in the world. However, fast growth of evangelical and neopentecostal churches led to a growing share of non-catholic Christians in the population. It’s also widely known that self-declaring Catholics attend African cults like Candomblé (of Yoruba and Bantu origin, similar to Cuban Santería and Haitian Voodoo cults) or Umbanda (a made-in-Brazil blend of Candomblé and indigenous religious practices).
In 19th century Brazil was a monarchy – an empire – and Roman Catholicism was the official religion. In the second half of the century Protestant churches started sending missionaries. As a reward for British support of Independence from Portugal, Anglican ministers were allowed to join the English-speaking community. Soon came the Congregationalists, the first missionaries trying to reach native converts.
The first Presbyterian to come to Brazil was Ashbell Green Simonton. A Princeton alumnus, he arrived in Rio de Janeiro in August 12, 1859. In a few years he founded churches in Rio, São Paulo and Campinas, organizing a presbytery. He and his wife died still young, of tropical diseases that plagued the country.
Later came the Methodists, the Baptists, and the Lutherans following a wave of German immigrants South of the country.
In the early years of 20th century, two missionaries from Sweden founded the first Assemblies of God church in Belém do Pará, Amazon. This Pentecostal church spread among the poorest to become the largest evangelical denomination in Brazil and a popular reference of what evangelicals are like. Almost every town or village in Brazil has an Assemblies of God temple or fellowship.
Starting in the ‘80s, the great religious phenomenum in Brazil is indeed neopentecostal Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (Universal Kingdom of God Church). Combining promises of prosperity, vigorous spiritual war preaching and aggressive marketing strategies, leader Bishop Edir Macedo built a church model based on franchising. If a local temple doesn’t reach a target revenue in tithes and offerings, it’s closed, just like a MacDonald’s or Burger King restaurant. But most survive, and are all around in Brazil and abroad. Church money helped Macedo to buy Brazil’s no. 2 TV network, TV Record, now a defiant competitor of once monopolist Rede Globo.
A similar church is São Paulo-based Renascer em Cristo (Born in Christ Church), famous for its members (soccer star Kaká) and its pastors, convicted for trying to smuggle US$ 50,000 into USA, conveniently concealed in a Bible.
On the turn of the century, the country saw the multiplication of churches based on the small groups G-12 model, many of them stealing members from traditional established churches.
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