Debate on new series about Brazilian evangelicals brings together pastors and researchers at CIVI-CO

On June 4th, the CIVI-CO auditorium hosted an illuminating conversation about the growth of the evangelical population in Brazilian society. The evening began with the screening of the first episode of the series “Crentes – Além dos Muros” (Believers – Beyond the Walls), from Globonews channel, followed by a debate with its director, Rafael Norton, Soul Igreja pastor and gospel singer Kleber Lucas, Baptist pastor José Marcos, and journalist Bruno Paes Manso, author of “A Fé e o Fuzil: Crime e Religião no Brasil do Século XXI” (The Faith and the Rifle: Crime and Religion in 21st Century Brazil). The discussion was moderated by anthropologist Juliano Spyer, consultant for the series.

The Humanitas360 Institute’s president and CIVI-CO co-founder Patrícia Villela Marino hosted the event, which continued the lecture “2020: The Decade of Evangelicals“, delivered in May by Spyer in the same venue. As the series’ theme, the conversation focused on the reality of small neighborhood churches scattered throughout the country, far from the spotlight and distant from the image associated with media pastors. The three episodes of “Crentes – Além dos Muros” are available to subscribers on the Globoplay streaming platform.

In addition to highlighting the complexity of the evangelical segment, inviting the public to listen to the so-called “crentes” (or believers) in first person, the panelists also reinforced the need to respect the diversity of Brazilian faith, especially religions of African origin. From the audience, University of São Paulo professor and composer José Miguel Wisnik asked for the floor and closed the evening, saying he was hopeful about what he heard and “converted” to the importance of the topic.

Check out the event video summary: