Show da Fé

Its low season here in Praia do Forte and during the week there is absolutely nothing to do in the evening so I watch a lot of tv. Brazil is mostly associated with samba, beautifull beaches, equally beautyfull girls in g-string bikinis and, of course, football - so I was surprised to see that most prime time tv shows are about religion! One of my favourite shows is the 'Show da Fé' with Missionario R.R. Soares. The show consists of a service given by the Missionario, a jovial guy of about 55, in a huge hall, songs and prayers and soap opera like 'novelas', video testimonials of people who found Jesus. Usually a couple of miracles takes place during the show, too. Such as people being cured of deseases or vices. Of course, Missionario R.R. Soares makes sure to encourage his faithfull followers to make a 'doacao', a donation. He doesnt't state it explicitly but testimonials from people who made donations seem to indicate that the amount of the donation correlates with the probability of a miracle. I especially like the demonstration of people who just witnessed a miracle, such as a grandma who started to jump around like crazy to show how her leg has been cured my Jesus. Everytime I watch the show I have to think of the old joke of the guy in a wheelchair who makes a pilgrimage to Lourdes... and the miracle takes place - he can't walk, but the wheelchair has new wheels ;-)

Anyway, religion is not only big business on tv but in all domains of life in Brazil. In Salvador I stumbled into a triathlon organized by the Seventh-Day Adventists. They were wearing shirts saying 'Jesus voltara' (Jesus will come back) and handed out brochures to everyone and water to the runners. I would have loved to know if the water turned into wine after the finishing line but didn't dare to ask so. I was also wondering if Jesus came back, were would he come to? Would he come to Brazil? It definately would be a good idea as Brazil seems to be ready. The only problem would be, that there are so many offshoots of Christianity and it is hard to tell which would be the worthiest to welcome back Jesus. There are the athletic Seventh-Day Adventists, the noisy Baptists who, at least here in Praia do Forte, meet every evening for a session of joyfull singing and dancing, the petty boring Jehova's witnesses, who read the bible and wait for the world to end... and many more. And of course there is Missionario R.R. Soares who makes sure to make his next million before Jesus comes back and works the wonders for free.

Amen :-)