EM TERRAS DE SINCRETISMOS: apropriações e ressignificações afro-brasileiras na Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus.

Abstract

The present study (thesis) has as main objective to analyze and understand the socio-cultural and religious influences arising from religions of African heritage on the Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD). Over recent years it has been observed significant changes in the Pentecostal ritualistic context, and specifically, Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, which began to use elements originating from African- Brazilian religions in its rites. By means of bibliographical, documentary and case study research, printed statements (flyers), regional and national coverage preaching and also excerpts from the book Orixás, Caboclos & Guias, Deuses ou Demônios? were analyzed with a focus on highlighting the use of elements from African religions, its appropriation and redefinition. This research has shown that antagonistically, at the same time that such items are used, they are also fought vehemently by supporters of African-Brazilian and mediunical religions. The process takes place in a hostile manner and among the doctrinal currents precipitating such a procedure it can be stress the spiritual war against the devil, which has emerged as a source of religious intolerance against African-Brazilian religions. It so happens that the IURD, beyond taking ownership of such elements, assign to them new meanings. Breaks out, thus, a new syncretic process that is stimulated by the religious nature of the discourses. Through the theoretical conceptions that come from Foucault efforts, an analysis of the discourses was arranged and have been noted that they stimulate spiritual barriers especially against Umbanda and Candomblé adherents. Meanwhile, to strengthen its discourses, IURD started to use up terms, elements, rites and expressions stemming religions of African heritage with the purpose of creating a point of contact with Brazilian popular belief. Allocating new meanings to religious elements, IURD has contributed to the repositioning of the black identity among its believers; but, at once, it seems that it also seeks to distort this same black identity in the religions of African-matrix, attributing to them negative facets, relating them to the devil, setting thus certain climate of religious intolerance between IURD and religions of African- matrices. It may be seen that the use of elements of the religion regarded as opposite and the redefinition of its major elements of identity is setting up a new syncretic process in the field of Brazilian religions.