Benzedeiras: Lights and Shadows of the Religious Healing Practice in Brazilian Folk Catholicism
Benzedeiras: Lights and Shadows of the Religious Healing Practice in Brazilian Folk Catholicism

Summary/Abstract: This article presents field research-based reflections on the socio-cultural contexts of religious healing practices in Brazilian folk Catholicism performed by traditional local blessing-givers (bendezeiras). Recognizing both illness and healing as socio-cultural processes and religion as an important key to understanding Brazilian culture and society, I concentrate on depicting important characteristics of the benzedeiras’ practice, concentrating on “lights” (positive aspects) and “shadows” – adverse factors limiting the possibilities of intergenerational transmission in spite of the continuing popularity and symbolic effectiveness of benzedeiras’ religious healing in Brazil.

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