Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The growing relevance of Evangelicals in Brazilian politics demands an analysis that goes beyond stigmas and generalizations. In the book Does Religion Distract the Poor?, Victor Araújo breaks away from the simplistic view that the Evangelical vote is merely a product of irrationality or manipulation. On the contrary, the author demonstrates that this electorate operates under its own political logic, consolidated by a value system that prioritizes the myth of meritocracy, the expectation of social mobility, and the imperative of morality. Consequently, the Left faces a strategic dilemma: by ignoring this rationality, it neglects the complexity that alienates poor voters from redistributive agendas. Therefore, this work is indispensable for understanding the reconfiguration of power in Brazil. It not only deconstructs prejudices but also calls on institutions to recognize the weight of religiosity in the public sphere, which is fundamental for preserving pluralism in a constantly contested democracy.
Source: Logos & Culturas
Author: Boechat, Davi
Institution: Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo
Language: Portuguese
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220795487