Dimensions of Christianity and the Amplification of Ecumenism in Brazil

Abstract

Christianity is the largest religion in the world and is clearly constituted in a very heterogeneous way through many doctrines and institutions. It is no different in Brazil. Without considering smaller groups, Kardecist Spiritism, which is the third largest religious branch (after Catholicism and Protestantism), is gradually being recognized as a part of Christianity due to the central worship of Jesus Christ—not as God, but as God’s assistant in the Earth’s creation and government—and to works of mercy, based on the principle of charity. Catholics, Protestants, and Spiritists have been—even though in a discreet and moderate way—carrying out activities over and above traditional ecumenism as part of interreligious dialogue. In some events dedicated to Bible studies as well as to the discussion of different themes, Spiritist speakers, Protestant pastors, and Catholic priests participate surmounting expressive doctrinarian differences in favor of a wider Christian identity. Based on field work as well as bibliographical research, this article focuses on these experiences of dialogue among the three different and larger branches of Brazilian Christianity.