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Dwelling on the hill: Impressions of residents of two favelas in Rio de Janeiro regarding religion and public space

2008; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 38; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.religion.2008.01.001

1096-1151

Clara Mafra,

Religious Tourism and Spaces

Abstract Drawing on fieldwork and interviews with residents in two favelas in Rio de Janeiro, this paper argues that the concept of ‘the divided city’ (fixed and nomadic, planned and negotiated, rich and poor) allows us to make sense of these residents' views of religion and public space. Life ‘on the hill’ is characterised by a greater degree of negotiation and improvisation in all its social relations than is life below in ‘the asphalt’. This offers important insights into the success of Evangelicals [Apart from here in the abstract, references to ‘evangelicals' in the text follow Brazilian usage, i.e., a broad term including three groups of Protestants: mainstream historical churches or ‘‘evangelicos de missão’’ (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, etc); Pentecostals (Assembleia de Deus, Congregacão Cristã, Deus é Amor, etc.); and Neo-pentecostals (Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, Igreja da Graca de Deus, Igreja Aposto lica Renascer em Cristo, etc).(S.E./C.M.)] and Pentecostals, and the relative lack of success by Catholics, in taking a lead in public activities within the community. This finding may well have broader application. However, the paper makes a theoretical and methodological qualification: because the place of religion depends on the particular history and context of the location studied, the most pressing need is for more local studies.