Religion and neoliberalism
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God’s stance on the Portuguese financial crisis and austerity politics (2010-2012)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23925/1677-1222.2021vol22i1a8Keywords:
Austerity policies, Neoliberalism, Neo-Pentecostalism, Portugal, Universal Church of the Kingdom of GodAbstract
This article aims to analyze the discourse of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) in Portugal regarding the Portuguese economic and financial crisis (2010-2014) and the implementation of the austerity program, bearing in mind the association between neopentecostalism and neoliberalism. The study is anchored on a qualitative methodology based on a documentary analysis of the official newspaper of the UCKG, Folha de Portugal. Editions between 2010 and 2012 are analyzed, a period corresponding to the main reforms introduced by the austerity policy. This theoretical-methodological option appears to be an essential instrument for understanding the relationship between neoliberal policies and the narratives of prosperity theology.
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