Pentecostalism in Brazil

With its exalted emotionality, Pentecostalism is a widespread religious movement in Latin America and Africa. It is a blend of Methodism and African religious culture which arouses the passions of the poorest Brazilian masses. Pentecostal conversion is experienced as a sudden break which radically transforms the life of these sectors of the population. Pentecostalism is an Utopia of equality, love and emotion, which is staged during the worship service. However, it is also characterized by authoritarian features. Pentecostalism is slowly eroding the foundation of Western political categories.

Autorentext

ANDRÉ CORTEN is Professor of Political Science and Discourse Analysis at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada. He has taught in several universities, including those of Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile, and Santo Domingo. He wrote many books, notably on the formation of political categories and State structuration in the Third World (Algeria, Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Brazil). He is currently co-editing publications on Pentecostalism in Africa and Latin America.

Inhalt
Preface Introduction Participation and the Poor: Liberation Theology Emotion and the Poor: Pentecostalism (I) Emotion and the Poor: Pentecostalism (II) The Left and the 'Passion of the Base' Praise: an Original Utterance Piety and Prosperity The Sect: the Anti-Politics of the Poor Conclusion References Bibliography Index