COMO A IGREJA EVANGÉLICA ESTÁ DESTRUINDO NOSSAS CRIANÇAS “Relato de um ex-crente”

Samuel de Araújo Mateus

31 Jul 202410:01

Summary

TLDRThe script discusses a personal experience with fear and panic induced by apocalyptic teachings in a Christian evangelical context. It describes how these themes, often introduced during childhood, were used as tools for religious conversion, emphasizing fear of the Apocalypse and eternal punishment. The narrative critiques the way some evangelical groups leverage fear, especially through apocalyptic symbolism, to expand their influence and power, ultimately questioning the impact of such teachings on individuals and society.

Takeaways

😴 The speaker recounts a childhood dream involving fear and the end of the world, symbolized by the Apocalypse, which was a recurring theme in their early life.
👻 The speaker describes an encounter with a malevolent entity during a religious convention, which instilled a deep fear that affected their childhood.
🔥 The fear was later used as a conversion tool, with the Apocalypse being a dominant theme in the speaker's religious upbringing.
🌍 The speaker discusses the use of fear and panic as a means to promote a state of social crisis, suggesting the loss of Christian values and the end of the world is near.
📖 The speaker criticizes the instrumentalization of the Apocalypse in religious teachings as a tool for conversion, especially within evangelical circles.
🏛 The speaker reflects on their experience in Sunday schools and the emphasis on evangelism and the use of the Bible as a tool for conversion.
🔑 The speaker mentions that the believer is seen as an instrument of God on Earth, with the ultimate goal of conversion and the expansion of the church's influence.
🗣️ The speaker talks about the strategies used for conversion, starting with love and dialogue and ending with fear and the threat of eternal punishment.
📚 The speaker highlights that the Bible, and specifically the Book of Revelation, is taught not only as a guide for life but also as a conversion tool.
💡 The speaker suggests that the evangelical church's growth is tied to its ability to convert people and incorporate them into its power structure.
🚫 The speaker argues that there is no room for 'the other' in evangelical belief, as the focus is on potential believers or those who are already part of the faith.
🌐 The speaker contemplates the role of fear and panic in society and how it can be manipulated to achieve conversion, even through absurd symbols or events.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood dream related to the church?
-The speaker's childhood dream involved hearing strange noises in the church they attended, hiding under a chair, and then experiencing the world spinning as if the Apocalypse was happening.
How did the speaker's first encounter with a malevolent entity during a convention affect them?
-The encounter with a malevolent entity during a convention caused the speaker so much panic that it affected their childhood, making them only feel fear for weeks afterward.
What was the impact of hearing a testimony from an ex-witch on the speaker?
-The testimony from an ex-witch, who claimed to have encountered a personified representation of evil in an accident, instilled a deep fear in the speaker that lasted throughout their childhood.
How is the Apocalypse used as a tool in the speaker's religious upbringing?
-The Apocalypse was used as a tool for conversion in the speaker's religious upbringing, with the fear of the end times being instrumentalized to bring people into the church.
What role does the Bible play in the speaker's religious community?
-In the speaker's religious community, the Bible is seen as the word of God and a tool for conversion, used to regulate the life of the faithful and to incorporate new members into the congregation.
What is the significance of the 'salt of the earth' metaphor in the speaker's religious context?
-The 'salt of the earth' metaphor signifies the believers as instruments of God on earth, necessary for maintaining life, and their role in spreading the word of God and converting others.
How are conversion strategies taught in the speaker's Sunday school?
-Conversion strategies in the speaker's Sunday school involve learning all possible tools for conversion, with a focus on mastering the sacred text, especially the Book of Revelation, to instill fear and motivate conversion.
What is the speaker's view on the role of fear in the conversion process?
-The speaker views fear, particularly the fear of the Apocalypse and eternal punishment, as a primary tool in the conversion process, used when other strategies fail to persuade someone to join the faith.
How does the speaker describe the growth of the evangelical church?
-The speaker describes the growth of the evangelical church as a project of power, where the essence is conversion, and the church grows by incorporating more individuals into its congregation.
What is the speaker's perspective on the relationship between the evangelical church and politics?
-The speaker suggests that the evangelical church seeks to engage with politics to stabilize itself as a political project of power, similar to the historical role of the Catholic Church.
How does the speaker connect the fear of the Apocalypse to the destruction of the world?
-The speaker connects the fear of the Apocalypse to the destruction of the world by suggesting that the more the religious text gains force and the idea of the end times becomes stronger, the more panic is sought, potentially leading to the world's destruction by human hands.

Outlines

00:00

👶 Childhood Nightmares and Fears of the Apocalypse

The speaker recounts their childhood dream of hearing strange noises in church, leading to a fear of the Apocalypse. This fear was later manipulated as a tool for conversion within the church, suggesting that Christian values are being lost and the end times are near due to the repetition of symbols in the Book of Revelation. The speaker reflects on their upbringing in a Protestant church, where fear and panic were used as conversion tactics, and the importance of the Bible as a tool for spreading the word of God and conversion.

05:00

🔬 The Evangelical Church's Growth and Social Ascension

This paragraph discusses the shift in the Evangelical church's focus from soul salvation to social recognition and material gain. It highlights the use of the Apocalypse as a conversion tool not only in personal interactions but also as a societal panic to convert those not yet part of the congregation. The speaker criticizes the church's approach to power and dominance, suggesting that it seeks political influence to expand its reach. The paragraph also touches on the idea that the pursuit of eternal life and the fear of the end times can lead to the destruction of the world, as people may not take responsibility for their actions if they believe prophecy will fulfill itself.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Apocalypse

The term 'Apocalypse' refers to the end of the world or a catastrophic event leading to the destruction of the earth. In the video, the speaker's childhood fear of the Apocalypse is tied to religious teachings and the fear of divine retribution. The script mentions, 'o mundo girando era o Apocalipse, acontecendo,' which illustrates the speaker's vivid recollection of this fear.

💡Conversion

Conversion in the context of the video refers to the process of persuading someone to adopt a particular belief, in this case, a religious one. The speaker discusses how fear and the concept of the Apocalypse were used as tools for religious conversion, as in 'instrumentalizado como uma ferramenta de conversão.'

💡Evangelical

Evangelical is a term used to describe a certain type of Protestant Christian who emphasizes personal faith in Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, and the importance of evangelism or spreading the Christian message. The video discusses the evangelical approach to conversion and the use of fear as a tool, as seen in 'todas aquelas ferramentas de conversão.'

💡Fear

Fear is a strong emotion induced by a perceived threat or danger. The script describes how fear was a significant part of the speaker's childhood experiences with religion and was later used as a conversion tool. An example from the script is 'eu saía debaixo da cadeira, que eu tava e ia para fora da igreja eu, via o Apocalipse acontecendo.'

💡Panic

Panic is an abrupt surge of fear and anxiety. In the video, the speaker talks about 'Pânico Cristão,' which refers to the induced fear within the Christian community to create a sense of crisis and urgency for conversion. The script mentions 'assistindo, esses últimos vídeos falando sobre a, abertura das Olimpíadas eu não pude, deixar de pensar na forma como eu fui, educado,' indicating the speaker's reflection on the use of panic in religious upbringing.

💡Social Crisis

A social crisis refers to a period of intense turmoil and difficulty within a society. The video discusses how a sense of social crisis is suggested by some Christian groups to indicate that Christian values are being lost and the end times are near, as in 'Pânico Cristão que tenta produzir um, estado de crise social.'

💡Eternal Life

Eternal life is the concept of living forever, often associated with religious beliefs about an afterlife. The video touches on the pursuit of eternal life and the eternal search for it, as expressed in 'a vida eterna continuará sendo buscada enquanto, mais a vida eterna for buscada mais o, texto religioso ganha força.'

💡Religious Text

A religious text is a canonical text or scripture that is central to a religion, providing moral and spiritual guidance. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions the use of the Apocalypse as a religious text to influence and control people's beliefs and actions, as in 'o texto Sagrado do Apocalipse assistindo, esses últimos vídeos.'

💡Power

Power in this context refers to the ability to influence or control people and events. The video discusses how the evangelical church uses conversion as a means to expand its power and influence, as seen in 'o projeto de poder que procura pela, expansão A Dominação política de um país.'

💡Evangelism

Evangelism is the act of publicly preaching or spreading one's religious beliefs, often with the intent of converting others. The video script mentions the practice of evangelism by the speaker's community, 'no período da, tarde no final da tarde nós íamos para, as periferias para espalhar a palavra de, Deus.'

💡Salvation

Salvation in a religious context is the deliverance from sin and its consequences. The video discusses the concept of salvation as a goal of the evangelical church's conversion efforts, 'ganhar uma alma para Cristo,' indicating the idea of saving a soul for Christ.

Highlights

The speaker recalls a recurring childhood nightmare involving the Apocalypse.

As a child, the speaker was frightened by an interview with a malevolent entity during a church convention.

The fear from this experience lingered and was reinforced by listening to a former witch's testimony.

Fear and panic were used as tools for religious conversion in the speaker's church community.

The speaker describes a societal panic driven by a perceived loss of Christian values and the approach of the end times.

The speaker criticizes the instrumentalization of fear and the Apocalypse in evangelical teachings.

The speaker reflects on their religious education in Sunday school and the emphasis on the Bible as a tool for conversion.

Evangelicals view everyone as potential converts rather than as individuals with differing beliefs.

The ultimate tool for conversion, if others fail, is instilling fear through the threat of eternal punishment.

The speaker notes a shift in Protestantism towards material gain and social recognition over spiritual salvation.

Fear of the Apocalypse is used to create a sense of urgency and drive conversions.

The speaker observes that panic is often produced through symbolic events and interpretations.

Protestantism in Brazil has grown significantly by emphasizing conversion and expansion.

The speaker warns that apocalyptic beliefs can lead to destructive behavior, as people may not feel responsible for preserving the world.

The speaker criticizes evangelical practices as contributing to societal panic and facilitating a potential rise of a false messiah.