Self-help literature and theology of prosperity: similarities not by chance

• Grant number: 12/16507-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: José Reginaldo Prandi
• Grantee: Monica Bernardo Schettini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to investigate two contemporary phenomena with large numbers of followers, strongly anchored in the mass communications, and which have remarkable similarities, especially the idea that thoughts or words are able to provide immediately changes in the lives of its practitioners, providing them prosperity, health and success. The phenomena in question are the theology of prosperity, a doctrine born in the U.S., in the 40's, emphatically preached by neo-pentecostals in Brazil, from 70's, and self-help literature, focused on "mind power", also that of U.S. origin. The main purpose of this research is to reveal the many similarities between the two phenomena, showing that these similarities are not caused only by a common context. In examining the historical roots of both, the same source appears, the so-called New Thought, a very unorthodox movement that emerged in U.S. in the late nineteenth century, with influences of mesmerism, of Christianity, of a popular version of absolute idealism, among other elements, combined with the belief in the power of mind. The similarities between the theology of prosperity and self-help literature "centered on the power of mind", based on their common origin, the New Thought, although mentioned in some studies, have not yet received a specific examination.