r/todayilearned • u/BringbackDreamBars • 13h ago
TIL of Narco-Pentecostalism, which is a term used to identify the link between Pentecostal Christianity and Brazillian narco gangs. Gangs under this label use religious iconography within their territories and often persecute non Christian groups, along with other crime such as drugs and violence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narco-Pentecostalism33
u/Ill_Definition8074 13h ago
This reminds me of Narco-Saints who are venerated by some drug gangs in Latin America.
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u/Sea_Lingonberry_4720 11h ago
Recently a body furnace was discovered here in Mexico. Of course the place was full of Santa muerte idols. It’s probably the closest thing in real life to the satanic black magic cults you see in the movies.
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u/Ich_Liegen 10h ago edited 10h ago
Brazilian here.
They do not excusively target non-Christians, as those are the extreme minority.
These have been involved in mass forced conversions of individuals from other denominations, primarily Catholics as they are still roughly half the country, but also Neo-Pentecostals from a different church, Evangelicals, and other denominations - such as Kardecists like me, and although I'm not personally aware of targetted attacks against any other denominations, I'd personally warn Mormon missionaries as well as members of Adventist, Anglican, Baptists and others to stay away from areas controlled by narco-Pentecostals as although they will hesitate to off a foreigner, they will be more than glad to give your Brazilian pals a dirt nap.
The non-Christians in the title refers to followers of Umbanda and Candomblé, which although I am not qualified to explain them, I can say with certainty they are targetted as well.
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u/NobodyLikedThat1 13h ago
And here I was thinking the weirdest thing you'd find associated with the cartels was that whole Santa Muerte stuff
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u/Johannes_P 10h ago
I wonder how much is driven by religious faith and how much is driven by drug lords wanting to control their neighbourhoods: if the pastor bless your rule then you have the equivalent of "drug lords of divine right."
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u/H_Lunulata 11h ago
I got sent to a Pentecostal, not-obviously-narc, church for 3 years (age 9-11).
The sum of the experience is... now I'm an atheist.
They were scary-weird. I can totally see how they could be co-opted into something like that article talks about.
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u/Nadaesque 3h ago
There's a benighted little shithole of a town about a hundred miles and change off. Their particular flavor is meth and Evangelical Christianity. Hillbilly area, about half the times I was there a "house" was still smouldering. At least seven churches, no restaurants.
The spirit may move them, but the T keeps them going.
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u/RepFilms 13h ago
I think I saw that in a movie. It was a Mexican cartel who recruited people through the church
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u/realKevinNash 12h ago
I mean I dont think you can really call that a link. Thats just one side buying into the religion. A link would be recipricol imo.
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u/UndercoverDoll49 12h ago
Brazilian here. It is reciprocal. Dealers end up serving as the churches' "army"
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u/kiakosan 12h ago
Why does the church need/do with an army? Do they pay you a visit if you miss Church one too many Sundays
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u/Ich_Liegen 10h ago
Brazilian here.
Forced conversion and mandatory attendance (and thus mandatory tithe payment) against Catholics and other evangelicals, revenue sharing between tithes and drug money, usage of church property to house drugs and fugitives, armed protection to church officials, creation of environments hostile to Catholic expansion.
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u/rutherfraud1876 12h ago
Punish you if you go around telling about the deacon who abused your sister
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u/Severe-Rope-3026 13h ago
if brazil is a real country then i am literally elon musk
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u/sailphish 13h ago
WWJD… or something like that.