Like most Brazilians of my generation I was born ‘catholic’, which is to say I was baptized. My family went to church only for funerals, weddings and baptisms. I went to a secular private school, and religion played no role in my life in Brazil. Most well-off, educated people/1
In my circle most (if not all) were exactly the same. Religiousness is more prevalent in lower classes, where resignation to “the will of god” is encouraged (we wouldnt want hundreds of millions of critical thinkers who might start wondering why they are kept poor while /2
A select few keep getting richer). Poor Brazilians are vulnerable. Many are illiterate, trusting and superstitious. Easily manipulated. Easy prey to the likes of Edir Macedo, who controls a vast media conglomerate. Imagine Fox News combined with Infowars but with religion /3
His victims rationalize the absurdity of a ‘bishop’ who keeps getting richer while their lives get worse by claiming he is favored by god while his poor supporters need to pray harder and donate more money to the church if they want to be favored too. It’s a scam./4
A hugely successful scam. I see this shit and my blood boils. I’m an atheist but I’m not anti-religion. I think if it serves you and you are happier for it, knock yourself out. But I draw the line at people demonizing (pun intended) someone else’s religion. Worship your way /5
and let others do the same. As long as no one is getting hurt, or being taken advantage of, and as long as it it stays separate from law and public policy, I’m cool with it. Religion or lack thereof is a personal choice. These lines are being crossed ever more often in Brazil. /6
If you ever wondered how a country so vast and rich in natural resources stays miserably third-world and can never get its act together, look no further. Opium of the masses, indeed. /end
