"Deus faz, o Templo dos Anjos mostra": perfil eclesial e adesão religiosa na Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular em Belo Horizonte

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the ruptures and continuities between the Brazilian religious syncretism and the Foursquare Church, emphasizes its theological principles, its foundational myth, its liberality in customs and its evangelists innovations. Also addresses to the repercussions of mass evangelism model launched by the Cruzada Nacional de Evangelização (1953) on emergence from the pluralistic and competitive religious marketplace in Brazil, emphasizing its reflections in the classical Pentecostal denominations and historic Protestant. Then, the analysis addresses the IEQ Templo dos Anjos, Pentecostal church located in Belo Horizonte, characterized by a hybrid theology, varied symbolic offering, large media investment, and a flexible organizational structure. The methodologies employed in field research were participant observation, document analysis, informal interviews and recording of testimonies. Thus, this case study identifies elements of religious life that contribute to the elucidation of how this Pentecostal agency regulates its numerous clients, divided between fixed and regular members and episodic and fluctuating members.