Varieties of Non-ordinary Experiences in Brazil—a Critical Review of the Contribution of Studies of ‘Religious Experience’ to the Study of Religion

Although 64.6% of Brazilians identify as Roman Catholic in the national census, this self-identification does not reflect actual religious practice or belief. Many Brazilians who call themselves Christian also participate in diverse non-ordinary experiences—perceived as religious, spiritual, or extraordinary—drawn from various Brazilian traditions. This article reviews studies of such experiences in Brazil, arguing that they are essential for understanding the country's religious landscape beyond official census categories.

Study at a glance

Abstract

According to the latest national census, 64.6% of Brazilians identified themselves as Roman Catholic. However, the census has little or nothing to do with actual practice or belief. Professing to be a Christian (within any confessional specification) is still part of being Brazilian. But the self-identification does not take into account that religiosity is expressed in very diverse ways nor does it prevent people from believing and practising one of the many Brazilian traditions though identifying themselves as Christian in the census. This perception represents the framework of the following discussion of non-ordinary experiences in Brazil, whether they are perceived as religious, spiritual or ‘just’ extraordinary. This article presents an overview of studies about non-ordinary experiences in Brazil. The aim is to show the importance of these experiences for the understanding of the religious landscape of Brazil.