Religion in Brazil
The dominant religion in Brazil historically seen was and is
still Christianity, with Brazil being the largest Roman Catholic religion in
the world. But the high cultural-diversity in the country has also got a strong
impact on the religions that are practiced in the country. The meeting of the
Roman Catholic Church with the religious traditions that have been brought to
Brazil through African slaves and indigenous people, who were brought there by
Portuguese colonizers in the past, formed of Brazil a richly spiritual society.
However, thanks to the variety of different beliefs and their tolerance,
Brazilians respect all kinds of religions and their values.
In the 2010 census 64.6% of the population declared
themselves as Roman Catholic, 22.2% as Protestant, 8% as non religious, and
5.2% as followers of other religions (mostly Spiritists or Kardecists who follow the doctrines of Allan
Kardec, Umbandists, Candomblers, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and minorities
of Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and other groups).
In the 21st century a rapid re-orientation took place, and the adherence-level of secularism, which means to have no religious affiliation and evangelical Protestantism has growth, up to 22% of the population.
The different religious-orientations have got a strong influence on the lifestyle of Brazilians. In 1970, the religious profiles of rural and urban residents were very similar, but the differences have become more pronounced in the last years. We can observe that Brazilian Catholics tend to be older and live in rural areas, while Protestants and secularists tend to be younger, on average, than the population as a whole and prefer living in urban areas. As of 2010, for example, 10% of 15-to 29year-old Brazilians had no religious affiliation, compared with 4% of people who are 70 years and older.
Relationship between religion and business
It is very important to share an interest in the relationships between religion and business, to help deepen the understanding of the opportunities but also challenges that we have to consider doing business in a variety of cultures in today’s globalized world.
The information we got about Brazilian religion right now let us also learn a lot about business in Brazil:
Apparently a development from catholic to evangelical Protestantism, or secularism takes place in Brazil in the 21st century. We can assume that there is a connection between this development and the economic growth in Brazil during the last years. With economic and business becoming more and more important, people tend to be more “modern”; young people are living in the urban parts of Brazil for working in business. Today, Brazil’s cities are home to a much lower share of Catholics than the country’s rural areas. For example, less than half (46%) of the population of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second-largest city and centre of business-decisions, is affiliated with the Catholic Church.
Even if we can consider Brazil as a population that has
today more distance to religion than some years ago, it is still a very
important and influencing aspect for the country. The tenets of most religion
are hard work, honesty, truthfulness, belief and determination, which influence
people’s daily life and their action. And of course these tenets are necessary
for growth and survival of any business.
In addition, in Brazil it is important in Business to
socialize with one’s colleagues and important conversation topics are
obligatory culturalorientated such as soccer, arts or travel and the most
important cultural events like “The Brazilian Carnival” have got a strong
catholic influence.
Katharina Grewing
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Brazil
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/07/18/brazils-‐changing-‐religious-‐landscape/
Photo credits:
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/07/18/brazils-changing-religious-landscape/
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