RelaÃÃes raciais no protestantismo recifense

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

The research that resulted into this dissertation had as its primary objective the study of race relations and stereotypes in three Protestant churches belonging, respectively to three categories: âhistoricalâ, âPentecostalâ and âNeo-Pentecostalâ, with special concentration on a congregation belonging to the latter category: Igreja Internacional da GraÃa de Deus. A basic conclusion of the investigation is expressed in the concept of pardizaÃÃo (âbrownificationâ). Most members, including ministers and other leaders are representative of the Brazilian phenotypical category known as âpardoâ (roughly translatable as brown). There is too a noticeable presence of âblacksâ but only a small minority of âwhitesâ. Respondents interviewed during field work deny emphatically the existence of any form of discrimination. Yet subtle racial stereotypes are not really absent, as when an âobreiraâ (literally âworkerâ, a person with duties in the church, though not a minister) told me âIâm black and Iâm pretty and I donât soil the ground I step onâ. Similarly, hairs are straightened in order to conform to the aesthetic standards adopted by the church. But this does not seem to bring about any problems to the veryday life of members of the congregation. Women like that âobreiraâ claim to be all the more beautiful as they are the Kingâs daughters and are perfectly integrated to the congregation. Another form of discrimination is more meaningful. This refers to the religious origins of most members, who formerly were attached to one of the Afro-Brazilian religions, like xangÃ, umbanda, and jurema. They now abhor their past, which they characterize as darkness, error, and sin. This is very much reinforced by the sermons and exorcisms performed by the ministers who use the names of the Afro-Brazilian deities, like Exu, Pomba-Gira and Omulu, interchangeably with words that designate the devil in common Brazilian Portuguese, like inimigo, capeta, diabo and many others

ASSUNTO(S)

relaÃÃes raciais âafinidades eletivasâ protestantismo pentecostalism antropologia âbrownificationâ pardizaÃÃo protestantism neo-pentecostalismo afro-brazilian religions racial relations âelective affinityâ religiÃes afro-brasileiras

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