The pentecostalism in contexts of violence: an ethnography of relationships between Pentecostais and traffickers in Magé

Abstract

In Rio de Janeiro’s urban outskirts, we can observe the presence of two different groups: the Pentecostal churches and the drug dealers groups. However, although the Pentecostals see the drug dealers as connected to the Evil, the relation between them is not a conflictual one. In fact, the Pentecostals are respected by the drug dealers: both when they preach to the drug dealers at drugs’ sales spots and when they rescue people who have been “sentenced to death” by the drug dealers. How can we understand the moral authority that the Pentecostals have over authoritary and violent interlocutors such as drug dealers? The main hypothesis I develop in this article is that, by obeying the rules of gift and reciprocity and by orienting their action by the logic of the Spiritual Battle, Pentecostals achieve a priviledged position in a context of violent and authoritary drug traffic.