Looking to understand religiosity as a social factor, contributory of constructions of meaning and omnipresent in diverse historical and cultural universes, this article focuses on the ritualistic dimension of religiosity. Adopting as a research problem the religious pilgrimages, take particular note of the shrines as symbolic markers towards the supernatural. This work has a double aim: to carry out a review and critical analysis of the religious pilgrimages and to study the specificity of the pilgrimages to the Shrine of Fatima, (...) located in Portugal. After a brief mention of the dialectic dissidence-coexistence of ancient religious practices in secularized societies, the concepts of worship, rites and sacrifices are revisited. There follows a more in-depth analysis of the theme of pilgrimages to shrines, from the concept and historical review to the particularity of pilgrimages to the Shrine of Fatima, the latter viewed as a geo-symbol of religious tourism in Portugal. The results of a survey of 784 pilgrims to the Shrine of Fátima are presented, focusing on the beliefs, experiences, perceptions, purposes and expectations regarding the pilgrimage, as well as the nature of the requests addressed to the Lady of Fatima and promises fulfilled. Throughout the article the pilgrim character is emphasized, not neglecting the analysis of the active, voluntary and sacrificial behavioral implication as legitimating the benefits already granted or to be granted. (shrink)

This article aims to contribute with a reflection about religious pluralism and religious freedom into Lusophony. Reviving pieces of history since the 15th century to the current post-colonial Portuguese society, Lusophony is analyzed in two complementary perspectives: That of the colonizing people and that of the colonized nations. Evangelization, colonization and Lusophony are, and always will be, inseparable. In addition to linguistic uniformity, Lusophony gave its distinctiveness in acculturation, miscegenation, plasticity, and Christianization policy. Using the census data in the 90’s, (...) 2000’s, and 2010’s, with a documentary approach, it is established a general overview of religious affiliation in Lusophony. Moving from a faith of obligation to a faith of conviction, Lusophony is nowadays characterized by a pluralist position in religious matters. The current situation of religious freedom is analyzed from the AIS report and the GRI and SHI indexes. From multiculturalism to acculturation, the plasticity, eclecticism, and religious syncretism acted as moderators towards the imposition of a new belief. The article ends by appealing to the inclusion of religious freedom in the political agenda, in order to defend human rights and peace in the world. (shrink)

Os fenómenos religiosos ocupam um lugar central na vida dos crentes, na dinâmica dos grupos, na coesão das comunidades locais e na ordenação global das sociedades nacionais e transnacionais. Incidindo sobre a dimensão ideológica da religiosidade, o presente artigo pretende contribuir para um entendimento mais alargado da secularização, seus contornos sociais e consequências individuais nas sociedades ocidentais contemporâneas. Nele se revisita a tese weberiana da Secularização e seus efeitos ao nível da significação religiosa, dos estatutos/papéis religiosos e da extensão pela (...) qual se vive o religioso. Discute-se a privatização da religião e a consolidação numa religião mais transferida para a privacidade de cada um. A regressão ocorrida ao nível do efeito global e totalizante da religião assiste à procura de novas formas/rumos espirituais. A secularização vê-se transfigurada em pós-secularização, momento oportuno para a reformulação das teorias sociológicas da religião. O mundo contemporâneo é plural e secularizado, desenvolvendo-se crenças fora dos contextos institucionais, associadas a uma atitude religiosa mais pragmática. Espelho das sociedades ocidentais contemporâneas, a realidade portuguesa aproxima-se de uma posição pluralista em matérias religiosas. A relação do cristão leigo com a Igreja transformou-se, passando-se de uma fé de obrigação para uma fé de convicção. (shrink)