Vozes evangélicas e moralidade pública conservadora em Feira de Santana, Bahia

Abstract

This article reconstructs the political-religious positions of evangelical believers in Feira de Santana, Bahia, focusing on public morality during the 2022 elections. Through the concepts of religious publicization and minorization, we demonstrate the tensions between Christian churches and health, sexuality, and reproductive rights agendas. The genesis of this research lies in the observation of the systematic movement of Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal churches in directing candidates in successive elections, a phenomenon that has gained momentum since the 1988 Constitution (Freston, 1993). The work aimed to discuss two fundamental axes. The first concerns the conflict of identities, based on the observation of how Pentecostal voters prioritize their religious identity over their income identity, favoring left-wing distributive policies in favor of moral agendas (Araújo, 2019). The second refers to moral panic and survival, focused on the perception of diversity agendas (LGBTQIAPN+, feminism) as threats to the survival of the Christian social order, leading to political engagement as a strategy of resistance (Machado; Burity, 2010). Data collection, carried out through interviews in denominations such as Assembleia de Deus and Universal do Reino de Deus, revealed a strong commitment by leaders to direct votes to candidates aligned with conservative moral guidelines.