Between sheeps and wolfs: the political and the religious in an Assembleia de Deus

• Grant number: 13/26374-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: May 01, 2014
• End date until: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Anthropology
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Luiz Mattar Villela
• Grantee: Estêvão Barros Chaves
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research aims to examine, from an anthropological point of view, the political aspects present among the believers of the evangelic church Assembleia de Deus in Rio Claro, on the state of São Paulo. Using field research, to be done in the next electoral year, 2014, the analysis intends to turn to the argumentative constructions elaborated by leaders, pastors and believers that justify the presence and the central support of evangelicals on politics. Based on visits already done, the observations point to the central role of the conflict on the discursive articulation of the believers, especially the separation between church and secular world, what is mobilized all the time. On this sense, the evangelical politic participation has a practical and interpretative particularity, because it transgresses the limit between church and world, being present and dealing with the two sides established by religion at the same time. That specification will be treated based on the ethnographic work that will allow to point the character of its consolidation. (AU)