Chesnut Born Again

RA Chesnut, Born Again in Brazil: The Pentecostal Boom and the Pathogens of Poverty, (London: Rutgers University Press, 1997)

Authoritarian Assembly: Church Organization
“In its theological and musical training programs, bureaucratic division of labour and profound concern for civil status the AD now resembles its mainline brethren more than it does the independent Pentecostal denominations of the slums.”1 (129-130)
coins the term “participatory authoritarianism” to describe how despite much grass roots activities of members in lower level offices “the head of the church decides on important matters behind closed doors with a cabal of pastors.”2 130
How a Portuguese member of the AD in Belem returned to Portugal as a missionary in 1914.3 135
“The abundance of organizations at the congregational and intercongregational level provides seemingly limitless opportunities for active engagement in church life.”4 135
church provides many women with the first opportunity for extra domestic activity.5 137
breakdown of “usos e costumes” seen as an adulteration of the gospel by many older generation Assembleianos; particular concern in not being able to distinguish “crentes” from Catholics.6 (142)
Pentecostal Politics in Para
points to the “evangelico vota em evangelico” slogan.7 (154)
claims it is common for AD pastor-presidents to encourage their offspring to seek elected office.8 (160)
Conclusion
“apocalyptic discourse suffused Pentecostal preaching, but in the narratives of individual crentes, the Second Coming received scant attention compared to the trials and tribulations of their everyday lives.”9 (167)