The Heterotopic Theology of Santo Daime

Summary

Santo Daime, a religion from the Amazon rainforest that uses ayahuasca as an entheogen, offers resources for rethinking theology. The article argues for a heterotopic theology that moves beyond homogenizing Christian doctrine, drawing on the tradition's hymns, spiritual experiences, and its role in addressing depression and addiction. Combining Amazonian shamanism and popular Christianity, Santo Daime suggests an Amazonian, heterotopic, and public theology that opens to other ways of doing theology.

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Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the religion of Santo Daime, a tradition that emerged in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and is grounded in the ritual use of ayahuasca – an ancient indigenous brew considered an entheogen, a term of Greek origin composed of entheos ( ἔνθεος ), meaning ‘god within’, and genos ( γένος ), meaning ‘origin’ or ‘generated’. We argue for a heterotopic theology – that is, one that seeks to move beyond the potentially homogenizing tendencies of traditional Christian doctrine and to open itself to other ways of doing theology. To this end, we will present the characteristics of Santo Daime through selected hymns and the spiritual experience mediated by the brew, as well as analyze the religion’s role and self-understanding in the public sphere, particularly in cases of depression and addiction. We contend that Santo Daime, which carries elements of Amazonian shamanism and popular Christianity, offers valuable resources for rethinking both the object and the method of doing theology – an Amazonian, heterotopic, and public theology.

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