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RELIGION
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The Brazilian Constitution guarantees absolute
freedom of religion. With the proclamation of the Republic in 1889,
Brazil ceased to have an official religion, although in 1994 nearly
70 percent of the population declared themselves to be Roman
Catholic.
Recently Protestant groups in Brazil have been growing in number.
Today there are sizable memberships in independent Pentecostal
churches. There are also followers of mainstream Protestant
denominations from Europe and the United States such as Episcopal,
Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist.
There are over a million and a half Spiritists or Kardecists who
follow the doctrines of the 19th century French psychic researcher,
Allan Kardec (Central to Spiritism is the belief in reincarnation.}
Brazil's diversity includes converts to the Church of Jesus Christ
Latter Day Saints (Mormons); small minorities of Jews, Moslems and
Buddhists; and numerous adherents of Candomblé.
Candomblé is a religion that was brought to Brazil by the Yoruba
slaves from Nigeria and Benin. Today many Brazilians from every
social and economic group participate in both Catholicism and
Candomblé. To the slave-owners and Catholic officials, African
slaves were heathens to be converted. To that end, the masters
prohibited their rituals. In order to continue their traditional
practices while still appeasing their owners, slaves coupled their
animistic deities with corresponding personalities in Catholicism.
Oxalá, a male god of procreation and harvest, for instance, was
identified with Jesus, Iemanjá, goddess of the sea, was associated
with Our Lady of Conception . Throughout the year, the two religions
had many corresponding festivals. While the slaves kept their
traditional observances (some native Indian beliefs were also added
to Candomblé, their owners celebrated too, apparently convinced that
they and their slaves were practicing one faith. The Catholic Church
was content to let matters lie, hoping that, over the years, African
tradition would eventually die off and that Christian beliefs would
be strengthened. This has not been the case. Candomblé is practiced
all over Brazil. Umbanda a religion derived from Candomblé coupled
with the Christian and spiritist beliefs found in Kardecists, is
also practiced widely.
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