Instrumentalization of faith and religion: the rationality and irrationality of the sacred in contemporary Brazil

Abstract

The article analyzes the instrumentalization of faith and religion in Brazilian politics, focusing on the last two presidential elections, based on bibliographical research and a survey of facts and data published in the press and on specialized websites. Initially, the study presents theoretical reflections on the rationality and irrationality of the religious phenomenon, highlighting its potential for both collective mobilization and the legitimization of political projects. The growing influence of religion on the national political scene is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of evangelicals as protagonists of conservative agendas and support for certain candidacies. Concrete examples illustrate how faith was mobilized in speeches, alliances, and electoral strategies, configuring a field of symbolic dispute in which religious leaders function as mediators between believers and candidates. The analysis reveals that the instrumentalization of religion has consolidated itself as a determining factor in the recent political game, not only in winning votes, but also in the construction of narratives that reinforce identities and polarizations with direct and indirect impacts on the formulation and execution of public policies, with direct and indirect impacts on the formulation and execution of public policies. The article concluded that the phenomenon reflects the complex intersection between faith, power, and representation, shedding light on the challenges of a secular State in the face of the growing influence of religious actors in public debate and government.