O ESPETÁCULO DA FÉ: O USO DA TELEVISÃO PELA IGREJA MUNDIAL DO PODER DE DEUS

Abstract

The Igreja Mundial do Poder de Deus [World Church of the Power of God] (IMPD) is classified in Brazil as Neopentecostal or “third wave Pentecostalism”. Aimed at the low-income public and from dense investment in mass communication vehicles, especially television, IMPD stood out in the national religious scene. The question that guided the research is of historical and descriptive approach, unfolding into two interconnected questions: how did IMPD become an expressive agent in the Brazilian Pentecostal field using the mass media? What is the different discourse of this new religious agent? The objective is to describe the emergence and expansion of IMPD as a new agent in the Brazilian religious field, based on the concept of media religiosity. The corollary objectives are: to highlight the characteristics of the religious discourse of the IMPD (prosperity, healing and liberation); and, to study the charismatic (Weberian) and messianic profile of the founder and leader of the IMPD, the self-titled “apostle” Valdemiro Santiago. The methodology used was bibliographic review on the theme, using theses and dissertations; publications of recognized authors; and, collection of testimonies of members available on the IMPD institutional website. IMPD's strategic option to invest in television is an efficient way to stand out and expand in the competitive Neopentecostal religious field.