David Kristoffer Lannemyr Andersen “FROM VICTIM TO VICTOR” THE RISE OF PENTECOSTALISM IN BRAZIL - AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF REASONS FOR GROWTH. AVH502 Masteravhandling (55 ECTS) Master i Teologi Våren 2012 Tormod Engelsviken (Professor) Det teologiske Menighetsfakultet 1 THE RISE OF PENTECOSTALISM IN BRAZIL – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF REASONS FOR GROWTH. Contents THE RISE OF PENTECOSTALISM IN BRAZIL – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF REASONS FOR GROWTH. ......... 2 Chapter 1 – Introduction: ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.1 – Adventures in Brazil – the Field Work ........................................................................................ 9 1.2 – Contemporary Research ........................................................................................................... 10 1.3 – Questions of Research .............................................................................................................. 11 1.4 – Academic Context ..................................................................................................................... 12 1.5 – Method ..................................................................................................................................... 12 1.6 – Pentecostalism ......................................................................................................................... 14 1.6.1 – Classical- or Neo-Pentecostalism? ..................................................................................... 17 1.7 – Delimitation and Selection ....................................................................................................... 17 1.7.1 – Semi-structured Interviews ............................................................................................... 20 1.7.2 – Participant Observation ..................................................................................................... 20 1.7.3 – Informal Information ......................................................................................................... 20 1.7.4 – Presentation ...................................................................................................................... 20 1.8 – Epistemology and Basic Theoretical Questions ........................................................................ 21 1.9 – Outline ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 2 – History and Background..................................................................................................... 23 2.1 – “The Mission Field” ................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 – The Birth of a New Movement ................................................................................................. 28 2.3 – “A Prophetic Beginning” ........................................................................................................... 29 2.3.1 – Assembleia de Deus ........................................................................................................... 29 2.3.2 – Congregacão Cristá............................................................................................................ 32 2.4 – The Second Phase ..................................................................................................................... 33 2.4.1 – Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular ................................................................................... 33 2.4.2 – Brasil para Cristo ............................................................................................................... 34 2.4.3 – Deus É Amor ...................................................................................................................... 34 2.5 – “The Third Wave” ..................................................................................................................... 35 2 2.5.1 – Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus ..................................................................................... 35 2.5.2 – Nova Vida .......................................................................................................................... 37 2.5.3 – Igreja Mundial do Poder de Deus ...................................................................................... 39 2.6 – Three Stages and New Churches .............................................................................................. 39 Chapter 3 – Theories of Pentecostal Growth ........................................................................................ 40 3.1 – Differing Routes of Explanation ................................................................................................ 40 3.2 – Deprivation Theories ................................................................................................................ 42 3.2.1 – Followers of the New Faith ................................................................................................ 43 3.2.2 – Haven of the Masses ......................................................................................................... 43 3.2.3 – Political Oppression and Conspiracy ................................................................................. 44 3.3 – Social Change Theories ............................................................................................................. 45 3.3.1 – From Pre- to Post Modernity ............................................................................................. 46 3.3.2 – Recent Tendency ............................................................................................................... 47 3.4 – Spiritual Power Theories .......................................................................................................... 48 3.4.1 – Fire From Heaven .............................................................................................................. 48 3.4.2 – Born again in Brazil ............................................................................................................ 49 3.4.3 – Spiritual Power and Church Growth .................................................................................. 51 3.4.4 – Power Encounters ............................................................................................................. 53 3.5 – “The Brazilian School” .............................................................................................................. 53 Chapter 4 – My Field: Pentecostal Churches......................................................................................... 55 4.1 – Assembleia de Deus .................................................................................................................. 55 4.1.1 – “Gloria Deus” – Music and Style ........................................................................................ 56 4.1.2 – Structure and Strategies .................................................................................................... 58 4.1.3 – “The Wonder in Amazonas” – Interview with Pastor Jonatas ........................................... 58 4.1.4 – The “Mother” Church in Rio de Janeiro – Interview with Pastor Jessé ............................. 61 4.2 – Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus ............................................................................................ 63 4.2.1 – “The more they beat us, the more we grow”.................................................................... 63 4.2.2 – The IURD Theology ............................................................................................................ 65 4.2.3 – Leadership and organizational structure ........................................................................... 67 4.2.4 – Important practices ........................................................................................................... 67 4.3 – Nova Vida ................................................................................................................................. 68 Chapter 5 – Emic Approach: Presentation of Interviews and Observations ......................................... 70 5.1 – The Story of Junior (Assembleia de Deus) ................................................................................ 71 5.1.1 – Conversion ......................................................................................................................... 72 3 5.1.2 – Prison Incident ................................................................................................................... 75 5.2 – The Story of Isabella (Assembleia de Deus) .............................................................................. 76 5.3 – Observation: “Victory Campaign” (Assembleia de Deus) ......................................................... 79 5.4 – The story of Roberto (Igreja Universal) .................................................................................... 81 5.5 – Observation: “Session of Spiritual Unloading” (Igreja Universal) ............................................ 84 5.5.1 – Protection .......................................................................................................................... 86 5.5.2 – Devotion ...........................................................................................................................