From the yard to the pulpit – ownership and reinterpretation of the beliefs of the African-Brazilian religions through the leadership of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (1977-2010)

Abstract

In order to contribute with the researches related to religion’s and religiosity history, this work shows an analysis study of the appropriations and reinterpretation of beliefs and practices of the African-Brazilian religions, through the leadership of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (1977- 2010)., with an special attention on the symbiotic ritual that nowadays goes beyond the borders of the religious syncretism, giving emphasis on the work “Orishas, Mestizos and guides: gods or demons?” from Edir Macedo. There is a paradox related to the inclusion of African-Brazilian liturgy in the neoPentecostal cults, demonstrating proximity as well as incompatibility between these two religious fields. I try to wonder about the discursive ways that the UCKG takes as way of reinterpretation the elements of the beliefs of the AfricanBrazilian religions, illegitimating their power using the demonization strategy. The demonization of these beliefs is used as a marking point. In this sense, the UCKG, not only extrapolates its institutional boundaries, as well as incorporates mechanisms of religions functioning out of the Christian field. So, the demonization at UCKG results in the recuperation and acceptance of the representation and concepts concerning the bad forces that come with the Christianity history itself, and in the identification of the powers of evil, mainly in the spiritual entities that compounds the pantheon of the African-Brazilian religions. In this process, the religious intolerance is present.