New Study Reveals Religious Conversion Trends in Brazil

A survey about Religious Mobility in Brazil revealed that 24 percent of Brazilians have changed religion at some point in their lives while 69.3 percent have remained faithful to their religion, according to an ecumenical agency that provides information about churches in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The unpublished investigation, carried out by the Centre for Religious Statistics and Social Investigations (CERIS), was presented during the 43rd General Assembly of the National Bishops' Conference (CNBB) that met in Itaici, Sao Paulo from Aug. 9 - 17. According to the Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency (ALC), CERIS surveyed 2,870 people over the age of 17 in 50 Brazilian municipalities in 23 capitals.

“The research found that religious mobility is strongest among people aged 46-55 (27percent) and 36-45 (26.3 percent), while the percentage of men who change religion (23.9 percent) is slightly higher than women (23.1 percent),” reported the ALC.

The agency noted that one surprising conclusion was the academic level of the so-called "religious migrants." According to the research, those who have complete secondary school tend to switch to other religions (37.4 percent) although the phenomenon is also observed, to a lesser degree, among less educated people and those who have different academic levels.

The CERIS study also separated those who change religions by group of origin. Those with the greatest mobility (89.3 percent) are those who belong to religions with a minority presence in Brazil, the so-called "other religions" category. These are followed by Evangelical Pentecostals (84.6 percent).

In addressing the reason why people tend to choose one religion or another, the study found that the two main reasons were related to wellbeing and a personal relationship with God.

“What was evident is that people are increasingly using religion to address subjective needs,” the ALC reported.

The search for help in difficult moments in life was mentioned by 18.7 percent of Catholics and 30.5 percent of those who belong to "other religions." An approach to God was indicated by 20.2 percent of Catholics and 26 percent of Pentecostal Evangelicals.

Another important reason the survey found was the search for a religion as an ethical space, something indicated by 38.1 percent of Catholics and 15.2 percent of historic Evangelicals. According to the ALC, the two groups stand out for indicating that the reason for their current choice is the search for a "serious" religion.

The main reason, however, is related to doctrinal discrepancies. Of those who abandoned Catholicism, 35 percent did so for this reason, which was also valid for 13.9 percent of those who abandoned Pentecostal Churches and 33.3 percent of other religions.





Joe Alvarez
Christian Today Correspodent