Conversão e salvação nas comunidades pentecostais clássicas gonçalenses: Olhares sociológicos.

Abstract

This article presents a brief historical report about the modern Pentecostal movement, and its arrival in Brazil, followed by sociological approaches on aspects of spirituality, such as conversion and salvation, occurring in classical Pentecostal communities of the city of Sao Goncalo, metropolitan region of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pentecostalism would be from Protestantism, but it would consider the principle of centrality, special and direct action of the Holy Spirit in the life of its adherents. The supernatural manifestation would be evidenced in alleged divine power of speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts. The Pentecostal movement added statements that would encourage the construction of symbols and religious practices, which would value the sensitivity and charisma over rationality. Under the look of classical sociologists as Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Georg Simmel, Pierre Bourdieu, Norbert Elias, Daniele Hervieu-Leger, Schwuarcz, Cushe, it is importan to highlight some themes such as prophecy, magic, conversion, Salvation, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism and racism. This study also consider the writings of experts on Brazilian Pentecostalism, in order to clarify in which way Brazilian Pentecostalism is influenced by U.S. Pentecostalism or by the Swedish religious ethos. In order to reaffirm the prospects of these authors, classic and specialists, we performed a field research in classical Pentecostal communities of the city of Sao Goncalo.