Anne Barton-Veenkant on the Unorthodoxy of Religion in Brazil
February 16, 2007
Clear divisions and explanations don't come easy for Brazilian society. There are no clear lines between race, cultural background, or religion. Brazil is a country that has seen an integration of African culture, Portuguese as well as later European cultures, and indigenous cultures in a way that has created something new. It is no longer a mix of other cultures. It is Brazilian culture, completely singular in this world. It is perhaps because of this unique fusion that I have yet to read any work that sheds much light on religion in Brazil beyond the bare facts. Religion in Brazil defies any explanation. It cannot be put in a nice neat box.
Religion in Brazil has a completely different reality than in the United States—another reason it is difficult to conceptualize. As Americans, we have no experience of religion as it exists in Brazil. The United States is a culture where morality and religion are inextricably tied together—involving a good amount of guilt and fear. In Brazil, on the other hand, it is about living openly with all aspects of life.
Religion in America is about a relationship with God that includes discipline, abstinence, modesty, work ethic. The United States is a country founded on Puritanism, where the scarlet letter is the seal of shame—something that not only Nathaniel Hawthorne discussed openly in 1850, but which continues to show up in popular culture, such as the 1999 film American Beauty, in which a typical suburban family deals with adultery and lust. The effect of this modern film was to remind the American public, that as taboo as it is—these things exist, even in the picture-perfect home of suburban America. Religion in the United States causes us to hide anything that is not perfect, anything that is not pure. Our religious ideal has not changed from the Puritan woman in a white bonnet and brown dress buttoned up from her neck to her plain boots. What is she hiding? Or perhaps a better question is: What is she hiding from?
The code of moral judgment is my experience of religion in America as well, and yet here I am in Rio de Janeiro, the City of God, where thievery, assassination, and promiscuity are present every day in the poorest and richest neighborhoods alike. If you can survive Rio, you can survive anywhere in the world ... this is a test by fire, 74-year-old Doralice, a Carioca (person who lives in Rio) of over 50 years, tells me. From anywhere in the city, I can look up and see Christ the Redeemer standing on high with his arms out as if surrendering the city up to a higher will, and in the same moment, I must cast a furtive glimpse to my back to observe who is watching, who may be following me. This is a city of paradox. Religion in the City of God is not about morality.
Religion in Rio is about maintaining the self amid this paradoxical chaos—light and dark, enjoyment and violence, celebration and suffering, an amalgamation of influences from history and present day. Rio leaves much more in the open to be seen than does the United States. Religion in Rio doesn't ask that sexuality, discrimination, violence, pleasure, be swept under the rug. These things are part of life, and part of each of us.
As American culture understands religion, it may write off Rio, especially, as a godless place. However, it is in fact extremely spiritual. It has integrated an innumerable amount of spiritual influences into a Brazilian way of being. A typical Brazilian may go to Mass on Sundays, navigate romantic relationships by astrology, steer clear of black cats, and throw white roses into the ocean on New Year's Eve as an offering to Lemanjá, an African goddess of the sea. If you ask them what religion they are, they will respond naturally, "Catholic." What's in a name after all? Brazil is a country that defies definition, transcends labels and any experience of any outlined identity.
Some may understand this defiance of definition to mean Brazil lacks a true identity. However, the contrary is true; Brazil and Brazilians are solid and unique in their selfhood. If you tell them otherwise, the Brazilian will let you know the truth. They have claimed a place in the world community that is unlike any other and have recently begun to declare their own stand in world politics. For example, Brazil is one of the few countries in this world with both the means and the courage to stand up for itself in the presence of America's fiscal advantage. In 2005 for instance, Brazil turned down $40 million dollars and an additional $48 million remaining from a previous loan from the United States for AIDS/HIV prevention and treatment policy, which was offered on the condition that Brazil exclude sex workers and drug users from its HIV programs, and that it not promote condom use, but abstinence instead.[1] Including sex workers and drug users in treatment and prevention programs, is according to Sen. Brownback, equivalent to the promotion of prostitution.[2]
This is perhaps a prime example of the cultural disconnect, which may have its origins in our differing religious foundations. The United States would prefer to look in the other direction and hope that the immoral industries of prostitution and drug use disappear, that out of sight is indeed out of mind. Brazil on the other hand, which has been praised as having one of the most progressive HIV/AIDS policies in the world,[3] chooses to acknowledge the whole of reality. It treats all individuals, in this instance, as if they exist—humanely. While Brazil's government is far from perfect, this strong stand against political control attempts by the United States is impressive.
Brazil will not be bought by the world superpower. This is possible largely because it refuses to deny reality. Brazil will not be the victim of anyone outside itself. However, again eluding any certain conclusion, Brazil risks being a victim of itself. Resignation has seemed to be a part of Brazil's public feeling for some time. Rio de Janeiro's, and even Brazil's enormous poverty and crime rates reveal, among other things, a public acceptance of these devastating realities that has pained the community for far too long. This is acceptance to the point of concession.
However, contrasted to the bold action by the government illustrated above in addition to some other recent society movements, it seems that Brazil's mindset is changing. Some brave individuals are now beginning to believe that crime and poverty don't have to forever hold the city in terror and heartache, nor hold the country back as a whole. AfroReggae, for instance, is a new movement for youth empowerment and cultural pride in the favelas (slums notorious for their drug trafficking and high levels of violence), including community centers and dance and music performances vocalizing their anger about the favelas' deadly culture, where the life expectancy of a typical male is between 16 and 25. AfroReggae was itself born of the favelas by young Afro-Brazilian males who wanted more from life. These founders were largely inspired by Vishnu, the Hindu goddess of all creation and destruction; they often reminded themselves that she creates new life out of destruction and chaos—that hope rises up from the ashes. AfroReggae has had wild success in creating change in the lives of youth within the favelas in which it has a presence. Its music is now popular among the general population, including concerts in all parts of Rio, and their songs frequently air on the radio. AfroReggae adopted a lesson from a religion on the other side of the world and brought it home. AfroReggae speaks the message that the condition of the favelas is not irreversible, as many have long believed. They declare that they can create a new possibility out of the chaos and destruction that currently exists.
This is a new emerging religion in Brazil—the belief in the possibility for change. Yet most individuals still remain in the paradox of Brazil's old religion—full of vibrancy and life, yet on the other hand paralyzed by complacency. As the economy improves, it is argued that this mindset is changing on a larger scale. At this early stage, it is difficult to tell. Brazil will not be tied up with a bow and labeled with a tag. Brazil will have its own future, and has a number of resources to draw on from its rich history and diverse population. It may go the way of AfroReggae, currently the most prominent and successful movement of change among Brazil's urban poor; it remains to be seen whether Brazil will choose to further integrate this new religion of hope into its religion of freedom and truth.
Works Cited
1. "Brazil Turns Down US AIDS Funds." BBC News. May 4, 2005. Feb. 14, 2007 .
2. Favela Rising. Dir. Jeff Zimbalist. Perf. Anderson Sá, José Junior. VOY Pictures, 2006.
3. "Politics and Policy | Brazil Refuses $40M in U.S. AIDS Grants to Protest Policy Requiring Groups to Condemn Commercial Sex Work." Kaiser Network. May 2, 2005. Feb. 14, 2007.
Religion in America is about a relationship with God that includes discipline, abstinence, modesty, work ethic. The United States is a country founded on Puritanism, where the scarlet letter is the seal of shame—something that not only Nathaniel Hawthorne discussed openly in 1850, but which continues to show up in popular culture, such as the 1999 film American Beauty, in which a typical suburban family deals with adultery and lust. The effect of this modern film was to remind the American public, that as taboo as it is—these things exist, even in the picture-perfect home of suburban America. Religion in the United States causes us to hide anything that is not perfect, anything that is not pure. Our religious ideal has not changed from the Puritan woman in a white bonnet and brown dress buttoned up from her neck to her plain boots. What is she hiding? Or perhaps a better question is: What is she hiding from?
The code of moral judgment is my experience of religion in America as well, and yet here I am in Rio de Janeiro, the City of God, where thievery, assassination, and promiscuity are present every day in the poorest and richest neighborhoods alike. If you can survive Rio, you can survive anywhere in the world ... this is a test by fire, 74-year-old Doralice, a Carioca (person who lives in Rio) of over 50 years, tells me. From anywhere in the city, I can look up and see Christ the Redeemer standing on high with his arms out as if surrendering the city up to a higher will, and in the same moment, I must cast a furtive glimpse to my back to observe who is watching, who may be following me. This is a city of paradox. Religion in the City of God is not about morality.
Religion in Rio is about maintaining the self amid this paradoxical chaos—light and dark, enjoyment and violence, celebration and suffering, an amalgamation of influences from history and present day. Rio leaves much more in the open to be seen than does the United States. Religion in Rio doesn't ask that sexuality, discrimination, violence, pleasure, be swept under the rug. These things are part of life, and part of each of us.
As American culture understands religion, it may write off Rio, especially, as a godless place. However, it is in fact extremely spiritual. It has integrated an innumerable amount of spiritual influences into a Brazilian way of being. A typical Brazilian may go to Mass on Sundays, navigate romantic relationships by astrology, steer clear of black cats, and throw white roses into the ocean on New Year's Eve as an offering to Lemanjá, an African goddess of the sea. If you ask them what religion they are, they will respond naturally, "Catholic." What's in a name after all? Brazil is a country that defies definition, transcends labels and any experience of any outlined identity.
Some may understand this defiance of definition to mean Brazil lacks a true identity. However, the contrary is true; Brazil and Brazilians are solid and unique in their selfhood. If you tell them otherwise, the Brazilian will let you know the truth. They have claimed a place in the world community that is unlike any other and have recently begun to declare their own stand in world politics. For example, Brazil is one of the few countries in this world with both the means and the courage to stand up for itself in the presence of America's fiscal advantage. In 2005 for instance, Brazil turned down $40 million dollars and an additional $48 million remaining from a previous loan from the United States for AIDS/HIV prevention and treatment policy, which was offered on the condition that Brazil exclude sex workers and drug users from its HIV programs, and that it not promote condom use, but abstinence instead.[1] Including sex workers and drug users in treatment and prevention programs, is according to Sen. Brownback, equivalent to the promotion of prostitution.[2]
This is perhaps a prime example of the cultural disconnect, which may have its origins in our differing religious foundations. The United States would prefer to look in the other direction and hope that the immoral industries of prostitution and drug use disappear, that out of sight is indeed out of mind. Brazil on the other hand, which has been praised as having one of the most progressive HIV/AIDS policies in the world,[3] chooses to acknowledge the whole of reality. It treats all individuals, in this instance, as if they exist—humanely. While Brazil's government is far from perfect, this strong stand against political control attempts by the United States is impressive.
Brazil will not be bought by the world superpower. This is possible largely because it refuses to deny reality. Brazil will not be the victim of anyone outside itself. However, again eluding any certain conclusion, Brazil risks being a victim of itself. Resignation has seemed to be a part of Brazil's public feeling for some time. Rio de Janeiro's, and even Brazil's enormous poverty and crime rates reveal, among other things, a public acceptance of these devastating realities that has pained the community for far too long. This is acceptance to the point of concession.
However, contrasted to the bold action by the government illustrated above in addition to some other recent society movements, it seems that Brazil's mindset is changing. Some brave individuals are now beginning to believe that crime and poverty don't have to forever hold the city in terror and heartache, nor hold the country back as a whole. AfroReggae, for instance, is a new movement for youth empowerment and cultural pride in the favelas (slums notorious for their drug trafficking and high levels of violence), including community centers and dance and music performances vocalizing their anger about the favelas' deadly culture, where the life expectancy of a typical male is between 16 and 25. AfroReggae was itself born of the favelas by young Afro-Brazilian males who wanted more from life. These founders were largely inspired by Vishnu, the Hindu goddess of all creation and destruction; they often reminded themselves that she creates new life out of destruction and chaos—that hope rises up from the ashes. AfroReggae has had wild success in creating change in the lives of youth within the favelas in which it has a presence. Its music is now popular among the general population, including concerts in all parts of Rio, and their songs frequently air on the radio. AfroReggae adopted a lesson from a religion on the other side of the world and brought it home. AfroReggae speaks the message that the condition of the favelas is not irreversible, as many have long believed. They declare that they can create a new possibility out of the chaos and destruction that currently exists.
This is a new emerging religion in Brazil—the belief in the possibility for change. Yet most individuals still remain in the paradox of Brazil's old religion—full of vibrancy and life, yet on the other hand paralyzed by complacency. As the economy improves, it is argued that this mindset is changing on a larger scale. At this early stage, it is difficult to tell. Brazil will not be tied up with a bow and labeled with a tag. Brazil will have its own future, and has a number of resources to draw on from its rich history and diverse population. It may go the way of AfroReggae, currently the most prominent and successful movement of change among Brazil's urban poor; it remains to be seen whether Brazil will choose to further integrate this new religion of hope into its religion of freedom and truth.
Works Cited
1. "Brazil Turns Down US AIDS Funds." BBC News. May 4, 2005. Feb. 14, 2007 .
2. Favela Rising. Dir. Jeff Zimbalist. Perf. Anderson Sá, José Junior. VOY Pictures, 2006.
3. "Politics and Policy | Brazil Refuses $40M in U.S. AIDS Grants to Protest Policy Requiring Groups to Condemn Commercial Sex Work." Kaiser Network. May 2, 2005. Feb. 14, 2007.
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