Navigating Barriers: Understanding the Challenges Faced by Eco-evangelical Activism in Brazil
摘要
In the current wave of the greening of religions, certain organizations have specialized in creating faith-based environmental campaigns for Christian audiences, employing advanced technological and organizational strategies to expand their global reach. However, despite Brazil’s high levels of environmental concern, none of these organizations has successfully “acclimatized” to the country—a problem that is particularly acute among evangelicals. This chapter explores the reasons for this, examining the challenges faced by the Brazilian branches of A Rocha and Renew Our World. Through interviews and qualitative analysis of their materials—such as booklets, articles, worship resources, and reports—I assess the social and religious dynamics which limit their progress in Brazil and also the strategies they have employed to overcome these challenges. The findings suggest that the main barrier is neither one of framing or theological adaptation, nor a failure to use effective communication tools to reach this audience. Rather, the key obstacle appears to be the Eco-Evangelical Activists’ lack of effective articulation with church leaders. In other words, these organizations have focused heavily on religious legitimation, assuming the ecological gospel would gain traction on its own. However, they have neglected the crucial task of convincing church leaders of the strategic benefits of addressing environmental issues in an increasingly commoditized religious market. Meanwhile, Brazilian church leaders have increasingly aligned with conservative political figures and economic sectors like agribusiness. As the environmental agenda is seen as unappealing within these alliances, this creates additional challenges that hinder the establishment of eco-evangelical initiatives in Brazil.