Religiões de matriz africana em Juiz de Fora: trajetórias, alianças e conflitos

Abstract

The changes that have taken place in the field of religion in Brazil in the last few decades have deeply affected religions of African origin — umbanda and candomble. Among these changes, a holy war waged by the neopentecostals against these religions has been the main focus of social-anthropological analyses, which, however, are aimed at interpreting these attacks by the neopentecostals. The aim of this thesis is to study not only the reaction of the Afro-Brazilian actors to these attacks, but also the other changes they are carrying out in this religious universe. The articulations of the black movement with these religions will be covered in a historical perspective which will allow us to compare the proposals of the different phases of this social movement for Candomble and Umbanda, as well as with the proposals of the federations. Based on sociological theories of action and on contemporary anthropological theories, the field research was carried out in the Umbanda and Candomble centres in Juiz de Fora, in the State of Minas Gerais, from 2005 to 2008.