Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:38:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4038.pdf: 2201340 bytes, checksum: e81ba7d0740040195a15afe5f6fe6401 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-04 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The aim of this thesis is to analyze the Pentecostal discourse focusing primarily on various levels of discourse production of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) and the International Church of the Grace of God (ICGG) in order to answer the following question: Is the structuring of these churches predominantly built on the theology of prosperity or on a more varied a range of discursive elements? Based on the hypothesis that these churches try to offer a full experience of life and religion, in opposition to the idea that has been spread by many non-academic commentators and academic works that these churches are only ―supermarket of faith‖, where the ―customer‖ ―buys‖ religious products that he will use in his worldly life and soon goes away, eventually to become ―customer of another supermarket‖. To this end we analyzed two different national contexts. Church activities were followed in Brazil, mainly in Florianopolis, and the Netherlands, especially in the capital Amsterdam. This work also has the characteristics of case study and comparative study. Information obtained during fieldwork in Brazil brought elements for analyzing the behavior of the church and its parishioners in a very different national context, thus enabling us to see what remains and what changes in the discourse of the church and the attitudes of the followers in the new context. / O objetivo desta tese é analisar o discurso neopentecostal focando principalmente nos diversos níveis de produção discursiva da Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD) e Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus (IIGD) a fim de responder a seguinte questão: A estruturação destas igrejas é predominantemente construída sobre a Teologia da Prosperidade ou sobre uma gama de elementos discursivos mais variados? Partindo se da hipótese que estas igrejas tentam oferecer uma experiência de vida e religiosa plenas, contrariando a ideia que vem sendo difundida pelo senso comum e em outros trabalhos acadêmicos de que estas igrejas são apenas ―supermercados da fé‖, onde o ―cliente‖ ―compra‖ o produto religioso que terá uso em sua vida mundana e em pouco tempo vai embora, para eventualmente tornar-se ―freguês de outro supermercado‖. Para tanto se analisou dois contextos nacionais diferentes. Foram acompanhadas atividades no Brasil, principalmente em Florianópolis, e na Holanda, principalmente em sua capital Amsterdã. Assim, este trabalho tem também as características de estudo de caso e estudo comparativo. As informações obtidas no trabalho de campo fora do Brasil trouxeram elementos para se analisar o comportamento da igreja e de seus frequentadores em um contexto bem diferente, podendo se perceber o que permanece e o que se modifica no discurso da igreja e das atitudes dos frequentadores diante da nova realidade.

The heart of Pentecostal practice has always been an experience of the Holy Spirit. These experiences are often claimed to have the direct guidance of the Spirit and form the decisions and actions that result in the ongoing of the development of practices and doctrine. It is my contention that the third and fourth so-called waves of the Spirit are not truly waves of the Spirit, neither are they new. They are the rebirth, albeit in a new manner, of three disappointing and tragic movements of past Pentecostal history, namely the (New) Latter Rain, the Shepherding Movement, and the Prosperity Movement. I maintain that these two waves do not follow a solid Pentecostal doctrinal stand of an experience in the Holy Spirit of separability and subsequence, neither do they draw their doctrinal stand from the book of Acts, but rather the Synoptic gospels. Unfortunately, even though Pentecostal scholarship is on the rise, the majority of the prolific writers of these last two waves are extremely eisegetical in regards to their dealing with the Word of God. They claim vision and direction from Heaven, as opposed to an exegesis of the canon of Scripture. I maintain that these two, so called waves of the Spirit are not Heaven sent but man conceived and thus dangerous heresy to the church. `I believe that courage is the most important virtue, the foundation that underlies and gives realty to all other virtues and personal values. Without courage we become conformists. Conformity is not the fibre good and courageous leaders are made of… Do not be frightened by the aloneness that may come with your holding unpopular positions. It is in aloneness that wisdom will visit you and smile upon you'. These are not, as a theologian might be entitled to expect, the words of Elijah or Jeremiah. They are quoted from a speech given in 1999 by Mamphela Ramphele, vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town. Her context was the silence that has so often fallen on African societies once liberation has taken place. It is just such silent acquiescence, she insists, that allow former `heroes of the struggle' to become despots and dictators. Her words are challenging to Pentecostal theologians for at least two reasons. The first and more mundane is that Pentecostalism is most vibrant today in precisely those countries, which can be termed `postcolonial'. The second, and to my mind the most relevant to the movement, is that Pentecostalism was at its beginning a powerful spiritual force because it inherited an ethos of radical difference and because its proponents were unflinching in refusing to be co-opted into any other agenda than the one for which they knew they had been empowered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. In this sense it was a prophetic religion, a religion similar to that of Elijah and Jeremiah. It is my plea then in this presentation that the so-called `postcolonial' countries will not swallow this new error, which has been called the new Pentecostal rhema from Heaven, which stems, as do so many new theological trends from the Western world. The new emerging Pentecostal Charismatic churches, particularly of the Third World need to have the courage not to be conformists, for such is not the fiber good and courageous leaders have. The hermeneutical pneumatology of the Pentecostal tradition has always been questioned. The early Pentecostals did not even bother to develop a theological hermeneutical position of a subsequent experience of the Spirit; they accepted their experience as from God . When they did begin to develop a Pentecostal theology it was often ridiculed as being primarily experiential, thus in the minds of most, devoid of Biblical theology. Fifty years after the outpouring of the Spirit at Azusa Street many Pentecostal scholars began to re-examine the pneumatology of Luke's writing. In the latter part of the 20th Century many Pentecostal scholars came into their own, examining and challenging many of the previously accepted conclusions of theologians, in regards to the Classical Pentecostal doctrinal position . Their position was that there was a separable and subsequent experience of the Spirit following salvation, which was accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues. The initial evidence was for a few, and still is for some, questionable evidence. Such a position stood in opposition to those who declared that there was no second experience of the Holy Spirit for any person other than salvation. If those who believed in the `conversion-initiation, which included the baptism in the Holy Spirit' were indeed correct, then everything that Luke talks about in relation to pneumatology in his two-volume work is totally in relation to salvation. This was the theological pneumatological position prior to Classical Pentecostalism. It did and has resulted in many theological challenges. Scholars who take this position do so on the premise that Pentecost is more of a historical situation for the church. However scholars convinced of the Classical Pentecostal position are refusing to accept this position and have and are continuing to develop an exegetical position for a secondary work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life. This is my personal position made vitally real for me since I did not grow up in a Pentecostal church setting, but rather came into the Pentecostal experience in my early 20's. It is my contention that the theological impact of Christ's ascension prior to the public ascension witnessed in Acts 1 has not been fully examined. Few scholars have dealt with the typological fulfillment firstly, of the work of the High Priest as seen completed in the life of Jesus Christ, or secondly, of His fulfillment of the first four feasts which the Jews were commanded to keep. Both of these aspects very clearly enhance and form a clear indication that the classical Pentecostal theology was and is correct in speaking of a separable and subsequent work of the Spirit following a clear salvation experience. I will seek to elucidate this by an examining the historical background of the first two waves of the Spirit, followed by a preview of the work of the Holy Spirit as seen in the canon of Scripture with emphasis on the New Testament. I will follow this by the development of the idea of regeneration in the New Testament. Finally I will examine Lukan writing in regards to the experience known as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These chapters will then serve as a base for comparison with the material, which will follow. In the late 20th and early 21st century the Classical Pentecostal doctrine has been challenged by the last two charismatic waves of the Spirit, both of which have spawned a plethora of writings. It is my contention first; that the traditional Pentecostal understanding of the authority of Scripture has been abandoned in that now experience takes precedence over Scripture. Secondly it is clear that these last two waves do not fall within the same parameters as the first two waves in their understanding of a doctrine of separability and subsequence, since they revert to a pre-Classical Pentecostal theological position of only one experience of the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, in a day when Pentecostal scholarship is seeking to become acceptable in their exegesis, the authors of these waves are almost totally eisegetical. The question needs to be asked `Have they subtly taken on a title to glean a following?' It is thus my contention that a survey of these waves shows that they have no common ground with the initial two waves of the Spirit. The indication is that they have deliberately chosen a different Biblical basis and thus disqualify themselves from the Pentecostal Charismatic stream. I will seek to elucidate this by examining the historical background of the last two waves of the Spirit, followed by an examination of the Pentecostal hermeneutic and their lack of hermeneutics, as seen so clearly in their writings. This will be done by pointing out the comparisons to the latter two waves of the Spirit both in theory and in the voluminous writing, which are largely based on eisegesis. The stated desire to `have church without making anyone sick' has broached and taken the movements far into left field. Finally, it is my contention that the third and fourth waves of the Spirit are not new at all. They are simply a rebirth of three disappointing and tragic movements in Pentecostal history. Thus I hope to clearly substantiate that the third and fourth wave of the Spirit are not really waves of the Spirit at all. They are not such in terms of their Biblical theological basis, neither are they such exegetically. They are simply the result of those desirous of the moving of the Holy Spirit who have reached back into the past and reintroduced past aspects of renewal, which unfortunately were man centered and resulted later in much havoc among Christians. I will seek to elucidate these facts by an examination of the history and practice of the (New) Latter Rain, which still haunts Saskatchewan, Canada where tragedies still exist, and the Shepherding movement out of Florida, which after a few years was denounced even by the leaders and finally totally disbanded. Then, finally the Prosperity Movement, which rose and fell as an unacceptable, illegitimate deduction of so called truth of the canon. One hopes and prays that the tragedies in lives will not live to haunt the church if Jesus tarries. We do not want the "heroes of spiritual struggles" to become the despots and dictators of the Pentecostal churches in the Third World. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Church History)

Questa tesi tratta, a partire da una prospettiva antropologica, delle relazioni tra calcio e religione in Brasile. In particolare, si propone come obiettivo quello di comprendere una pratica dei calciatori brasiliani chiamata “fechamento”. Questo termine indica l’insieme di espressioni, corporali e verbali che i calciatori mettono in atto sistematicamente prima delle competizioni, e che si distingue da pratiche simili per la recitazione collettiva della preghiera del Padre Nostro. Da un punto di vista simbolico, l’ermeneutica del “fechamento” ci permette di raggiungere una comprensione che trascende l’oggetto in sé, rivelando una particolare visione del mondo (Geertz, 1989). A partire da una etnografia realizzata con i giocatori del settore giovanile dello Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre (RS, Brasile), integrata con il vissuto del ricercatore durante la sua lunga permanenza in Brasile, la tesi cerca di rivelare il significato profondo di questa pratica polimorfica che, per le sue caratteristiche intrinseche, si configura come un “bricolage religioso”, costituita da “pezzi” di vari elementi di credenze differenti, formando un mosaico (Bastide,1953-1970) di cui la matrice cattolico-cristiana costituisce il piano di fondo A partire da questa prospettiva, è possibile relativizzare l’impatto del neopentecostalismo nel calcio brasiliano (Rial, 2012; 2013), tenendo in considerazione la sua caratteristica “religiofaga” (Oro, 2015) o “antropofaga” (Almeida, 2003), ossia la propensione ad appropriarsi, risignificare e risimbolizzare elementi di credenze prese da altre religioni. Il caso del “fechamento”, tra i calciatori brasiliani, sembra essere emblematico di questo processo che, invece di rivelare la sua “faccia” neopentecostale, rafforza ancor di più il suo già alto grado di “bricolage religioso”. Dunque il “fechamento” come prodotto “sincretico” non sarebbe al servizio di una religione (neopentecostalismo) ma di tutte. Questo spiegherebbe il suo successo indipendentemente dalle appartenenze religiose dei giocatori. / Cette thèse traite, à partir d’une perspective anthropologique, des relations entre le football et la religion au Brésil. Plus précisément, celle-ci a pour objectif de comprendre une pratique des footballeurs brésiliens appelée “fechamento”. Ce terme désigne l’ensemble des expressions, corporelles et verbales, que les joueurs actionnent systématiquement avant les compétitions, et qui se distingue d’autres pratiques semblables par la récitation collective de la prière du Notre Père. D’un point de vue symbolique, l’herméneutique du « fechamento » permet d’atteindre une compréhension qui transcende l’objet en soi, révélant une particulière vision du monde (Geertz, 1989). A partir d’une ethnographie réalisée auprès des jeunes footballeurs du Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre (RS, Brésil) et complétée par le vécu de l’enquêteur pendant son long séjour au Brésil, la thèse essaie de comprendre le sens profond de cette pratique polymorphe, laquelle, par ses caractéristiques intrinsèques , se configure come un « bricolage religieux » , composé de morceaux de éléments variés provenant de croyances différentes, formant une mosaïque (Bastide, 1953-1970) dont la matrice catholico - chrétienne est la toile de fond A partir de cette perspective, nous pouvons relativiser l’impact du néopentecôtisme dans le football brésilien (Rial, 2012 ; 2013), tenant compte de sa caractéristique « religiophagique » (Oro, 2015) ou « anthropophagique » (Almeida, 2003), c’est-à-dire de sa propension à s’approprier, re-signifier et re-symboliser des éléments d’autres religions. Le cas du « fechamento », chez les footballeurs brésiliens, semble être emblématique de ce procès qui, au lieu de révéler sa « face » néopentecôtiste, renforce encore plus son degré déjà élevé de bricolage religieux. Donc le « fechamento » en tant que produit « syncrétique » ne serait au service d’une religion (néopentecôtisme) mais de toutes. Ceci expliquerait son succès indépendamment des appartenances religieuses des footballeurs. / Esta tese trata, a partir de uma perspectiva antropológica, das relações entre futebol e religião no Brasil. Mais especificamente, tem como objetivo compreender uma prática dos futebolistas brasileiros chamada “fechamento”. Este termo refere-se a um conjunto de expressões, corporais e verbais, que os futebolistas acionam sistematicamente antes as competições e que se distingue de práticas semelhantes pela recitação coletiva da reza do Pai Nosso. De um ponto de vista simbólico, a hermenêutica do “fechamento” permite alcançar uma compreensão que transcende o objeto em si, sendo reveladora de uma determinada visão de mundo (Geertz, 1989). A partir de uma etnografia realizada com os jogadores das categorias de base do Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre (RS, Brasil), complementada com o retrospecto do pesquisador durante a sua longa estada no Brasil, a tese procura revelar o significado profundo desta prática polimórfica que, pelas suas características intrínsecas, se configura como uma “bricolagem religiosa”, sendo constituída por pedaços de vários elementos de crenças diferentes, formando um mosaico (Bastide, 1953-70) onde a matriz católica-cristã constitui o pano de fundo A partir desta perspectiva é possível relativizar o impacto do neopentecostalismo no futebol brasileiro (Rial, 2012; 2013), tendo em consideração a sua característica “religiofágica” (Oro, 2015) ou “antropofágica” (Almeida, 2003), isto é, a propensão de se apropriar, ressignificar e ressimbolizar elementos de crenças tomadas de outras religiões. O caso do “fechamento”, entre os futebolistas brasileiros, parece ser emblemático deste processo que, em vez de revelar a sua “face” neopentecostal, reforça ainda mais o seu já alto grau de “bricolagem religiosa”. Portanto o “fechamento”, enquanto produto “sincrético”, não estaria ao serviço de apenas uma religião (neopentecostalismo), mas de todas. Isto explicaria o seu sucesso independentemente dos pertencimentos religiosos dos futebolistas / Starting from an anthropological perspective, this thesis deals with the relationship between football and religion in Brazil. In particular, it aims to understand a practice adopted by Brazilian footballers, which is called ‘fechamento’. This term refers to the set of verbal and bodily expressions that footballers systematically display before competitions, which differs from similar practices used for the collective recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. From a symbolic point of view, hermeneutics of ‘fechamento’ allows us to acquire an understanding that transcends the object per se, thus revealing a particular world view (Geertz, 1989). Starting from an ethnography carried out with the players of the youth team of Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre, Brazil and integrated with the experience gained by the researcher during his long stay in Brazil, this thesis aims to reveal the deep meaning of this polymorphic practice which, because of its intrinsic features, appears to be a ‘religious bricolage’, made up of ‘pieces’ of various elements of different beliefs, thus forming a ‘mosaic’ (Bastide, 1953-1970), for which the Catholic-Christian root represents the backdrop Starting from this perspective, it becomes possible to relativise the impact of Neo- Pentecostalism on Brazilian football (Rial, 2012; 2013), by taking into consideration its “religiophagous” (Oro, 2015) or “anthropophagous” (Almeida, 2003) feature, i.e. the tendency to incorporate, redefine and re-symbolise elements of beliefs taken from other religions. The case of ‘fechamento’, among Brazilian footballers, seems to be emblematic of this process which, instead of revealing its Neo-Pentecostal ‘face’, strengthens even more the already high degree of ‘religious bricolage’. Therefore ‘fechamento’ as a ‘syncretic’ product would no longer be based on one religion (Neo-Pentecostalism) but on all. This would explain its success regardless of the religious orientation of players.

Questa tesi tratta, a partire da una prospettiva antropologica, delle relazioni tra calcio e religione in Brasile. In particolare, si propone come obiettivo quello di comprendere una pratica dei calciatori brasiliani chiamata “fechamento”. Questo termine indica l’insieme di espressioni, corporali e verbali che i calciatori mettono in atto sistematicamente prima delle competizioni, e che si distingue da pratiche simili per la recitazione collettiva della preghiera del Padre Nostro. Da un punto di vista simbolico, l’ermeneutica del “fechamento” ci permette di raggiungere una comprensione che trascende l’oggetto in sé, rivelando una particolare visione del mondo (Geertz, 1989). A partire da una etnografia realizzata con i giocatori del settore giovanile dello Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre (RS, Brasile), integrata con il vissuto del ricercatore durante la sua lunga permanenza in Brasile, la tesi cerca di rivelare il significato profondo di questa pratica polimorfica che, per le sue caratteristiche intrinseche, si configura come un “bricolage religioso”, costituita da “pezzi” di vari elementi di credenze differenti, formando un mosaico (Bastide,1953-1970) di cui la matrice cattolico-cristiana costituisce il piano di fondo A partire da questa prospettiva, è possibile relativizzare l’impatto del neopentecostalismo nel calcio brasiliano (Rial, 2012; 2013), tenendo in considerazione la sua caratteristica “religiofaga” (Oro, 2015) o “antropofaga” (Almeida, 2003), ossia la propensione ad appropriarsi, risignificare e risimbolizzare elementi di credenze prese da altre religioni. Il caso del “fechamento”, tra i calciatori brasiliani, sembra essere emblematico di questo processo che, invece di rivelare la sua “faccia” neopentecostale, rafforza ancor di più il suo già alto grado di “bricolage religioso”. Dunque il “fechamento” come prodotto “sincretico” non sarebbe al servizio di una religione (neopentecostalismo) ma di tutte. Questo spiegherebbe il suo successo indipendentemente dalle appartenenze religiose dei giocatori. / Cette thèse traite, à partir d’une perspective anthropologique, des relations entre le football et la religion au Brésil. Plus précisément, celle-ci a pour objectif de comprendre une pratique des footballeurs brésiliens appelée “fechamento”. Ce terme désigne l’ensemble des expressions, corporelles et verbales, que les joueurs actionnent systématiquement avant les compétitions, et qui se distingue d’autres pratiques semblables par la récitation collective de la prière du Notre Père. D’un point de vue symbolique, l’herméneutique du « fechamento » permet d’atteindre une compréhension qui transcende l’objet en soi, révélant une particulière vision du monde (Geertz, 1989). A partir d’une ethnographie réalisée auprès des jeunes footballeurs du Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre (RS, Brésil) et complétée par le vécu de l’enquêteur pendant son long séjour au Brésil, la thèse essaie de comprendre le sens profond de cette pratique polymorphe, laquelle, par ses caractéristiques intrinsèques , se configure come un « bricolage religieux » , composé de morceaux de éléments variés provenant de croyances différentes, formant une mosaïque (Bastide, 1953-1970) dont la matrice catholico - chrétienne est la toile de fond A partir de cette perspective, nous pouvons relativiser l’impact du néopentecôtisme dans le football brésilien (Rial, 2012 ; 2013), tenant compte de sa caractéristique « religiophagique » (Oro, 2015) ou « anthropophagique » (Almeida, 2003), c’est-à-dire de sa propension à s’approprier, re-signifier et re-symboliser des éléments d’autres religions. Le cas du « fechamento », chez les footballeurs brésiliens, semble être emblématique de ce procès qui, au lieu de révéler sa « face » néopentecôtiste, renforce encore plus son degré déjà élevé de bricolage religieux. Donc le « fechamento » en tant que produit « syncrétique » ne serait au service d’une religion (néopentecôtisme) mais de toutes. Ceci expliquerait son succès indépendamment des appartenances religieuses des footballeurs. / Esta tese trata, a partir de uma perspectiva antropológica, das relações entre futebol e religião no Brasil. Mais especificamente, tem como objetivo compreender uma prática dos futebolistas brasileiros chamada “fechamento”. Este termo refere-se a um conjunto de expressões, corporais e verbais, que os futebolistas acionam sistematicamente antes as competições e que se distingue de práticas semelhantes pela recitação coletiva da reza do Pai Nosso. De um ponto de vista simbólico, a hermenêutica do “fechamento” permite alcançar uma compreensão que transcende o objeto em si, sendo reveladora de uma determinada visão de mundo (Geertz, 1989). A partir de uma etnografia realizada com os jogadores das categorias de base do Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre (RS, Brasil), complementada com o retrospecto do pesquisador durante a sua longa estada no Brasil, a tese procura revelar o significado profundo desta prática polimórfica que, pelas suas características intrínsecas, se configura como uma “bricolagem religiosa”, sendo constituída por pedaços de vários elementos de crenças diferentes, formando um mosaico (Bastide, 1953-70) onde a matriz católica-cristã constitui o pano de fundo A partir desta perspectiva é possível relativizar o impacto do neopentecostalismo no futebol brasileiro (Rial, 2012; 2013), tendo em consideração a sua característica “religiofágica” (Oro, 2015) ou “antropofágica” (Almeida, 2003), isto é, a propensão de se apropriar, ressignificar e ressimbolizar elementos de crenças tomadas de outras religiões. O caso do “fechamento”, entre os futebolistas brasileiros, parece ser emblemático deste processo que, em vez de revelar a sua “face” neopentecostal, reforça ainda mais o seu já alto grau de “bricolagem religiosa”. Portanto o “fechamento”, enquanto produto “sincrético”, não estaria ao serviço de apenas uma religião (neopentecostalismo), mas de todas. Isto explicaria o seu sucesso independentemente dos pertencimentos religiosos dos futebolistas / Starting from an anthropological perspective, this thesis deals with the relationship between football and religion in Brazil. In particular, it aims to understand a practice adopted by Brazilian footballers, which is called ‘fechamento’. This term refers to the set of verbal and bodily expressions that footballers systematically display before competitions, which differs from similar practices used for the collective recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. From a symbolic point of view, hermeneutics of ‘fechamento’ allows us to acquire an understanding that transcends the object per se, thus revealing a particular world view (Geertz, 1989). Starting from an ethnography carried out with the players of the youth team of Sport Club Internacional de Porto Alegre, Brazil and integrated with the experience gained by the researcher during his long stay in Brazil, this thesis aims to reveal the deep meaning of this polymorphic practice which, because of its intrinsic features, appears to be a ‘religious bricolage’, made up of ‘pieces’ of various elements of different beliefs, thus forming a ‘mosaic’ (Bastide, 1953-1970), for which the Catholic-Christian root represents the backdrop Starting from this perspective, it becomes possible to relativise the impact of Neo- Pentecostalism on Brazilian football (Rial, 2012; 2013), by taking into consideration its “religiophagous” (Oro, 2015) or “anthropophagous” (Almeida, 2003) feature, i.e. the tendency to incorporate, redefine and re-symbolise elements of beliefs taken from other religions. The case of ‘fechamento’, among Brazilian footballers, seems to be emblematic of this process which, instead of revealing its Neo-Pentecostal ‘face’, strengthens even more the already high degree of ‘religious bricolage’. Therefore ‘fechamento’ as a ‘syncretic’ product would no longer be based on one religion (Neo-Pentecostalism) but on all. This would explain its success regardless of the religious orientation of players.

[pt] Esta dissertação busca olhar para o espaço das redes transnacionais religiosas sob a perspectiva da Sociologia Política Internacional. Através do caso paradigmático da construção da Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD) como ator transnacional e sua transnacionalização para a África, procuro oferecer elementos para entender o lugar dessas redes na política mundial. Muitos estudiosos pensaram que a importância da religião desapareceria da política com o advento da modernização. No entanto, as tradições religiosas se adaptaram aos novos tempos, ressignificando o espaço da religião na sociedade. As redes transnacionais religiosas são resultado desse processo de adaptação. No Brasil, o movimento de transnacionalização religiosa que mais teve destaque foi o das redes neopentecostais, como o da IURD, que se intensificaram a partir da década de 1980. Em uma abordagem de redes de religião como fenômenos transnacionais, vemos que elas produzem efeitos na política mundial que nos permitem modificar a forma como se pode olhar para as relações políticas e sociais, e, por vezes, desafiar o próprio sistema de estados. / [en] This dissertation seeks to look at the space of transnational religious networks from the perspective of International Political Sociology. Through the paradigmatic case of the construction of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) as a transnational actor and its transnationalization for Africa, I try to offer elements to understand the place of these networks in world politics. Many scholars thought that the importance of religion would disappear from politics with the advent of modernization. However, religious traditions have adapted to new times, giving new meaning to the space of religion in society. Transnational religious networks are the result of this adaptation process. In Brazil, the movement of religious transnationalization that stood out the most was that of neopentecostal networks, such as that of the IURD, which intensified from the 1980s onwards. In an approach of religious networks as transnational phenomena, we see that they produce effects on world politics that allow us to modify the way we can look at political and social relations, and sometimes to challenge the state system itself.

[pt] Uma parcela significativa do evangelicalismo brasileiro, o neopentecostalismo, herdado da América do Norte, adere à Teologia da Prosperidade, cujos pressupostos vão de encontro ao núcleo da identidade cristã, a Teologia da Graça. Esta tese propõe analisar os fatores econômicos, políticos, sociais e religiosos que contribuíram para a mudança de paradigma, fazendo com que uma vertente do evangelicalismo pentecostal migrasse da religiosidade pautada na resignação para uma forma de manifestação religiosa norteada pela economia de mercado, o capital e o lucro, distanciando-o da sua origem de santidade e da Teologia da Graça, conforme ensinadas pelo pai do avivamento de santidade ou perfeição cristã, John Wesley e o aproximando do secularismo. Como instrumento de verificação para alcançar o resultado esperado, os elementos norteadores desta pesquisa estão alicerçados na Teologia Sistemática e na corroboração da História, da Sociologia e da Antropologia. / [en] A meaningful parcel of Brazilian evangelicalism, the Neopentecostalism, inherited from North America, adheres to the Theology of Prosperity, whose presuppositions stand against the core of the Christian identity, the Theology of Grace. This thesis proposes to analyze the economic, political, social and religious factors that contributed to a change of paradigm, making that stream of Pentecostal evangelicalism migrated from the religiosity regulated by resignation to a form of religious manifestation guided by market economy, the capital and profit, keeping it away from its origin of holiness and from the Theology of Grace, as they were taught by the father of Sanctity Revival or Christian Perfection, John Wesley, and approaching it to secularism. As instrument of verification to reach the expected results, the guiding elements of this research have as background the Systematic Theology and the corroboration of History, Sociology and Anthropology.