The other day I was waiting for the bus when one drove by with the message "Nos vamos com O Senhor" (We go with God) on the front. Now this isn't entirely surprising in this country (home of the world's largest Catholic community), but it was on the electronic display where you would expect to see the destination. And I understand that Catholicism requires a leap of faith, but surely even the most ardent god-botherer would flinch at this. Do you trust the Lord to take you home, or do you wait for the next one? Guess what I did.
Man alive, do Brazilians love to get their Jesus on. And when you come from a largely secular country as I do, it can be a little disorienting to see such obvious shows of faith. 90% of the people I see reading in public are reading the Bible. It is very common to see people wearing t-shirts proclaiming their faith and devotion to the almighty. I also find it a little embarrassing, in my own English way, to see such a public display of emotion. Surely this is a private thing, to be respected, but kept to yourself? They parade it in the same way that I used to show off my taste in US indie bands when I sixteen: put it on your chest.
I guess this says more about me then it does about them, after all, why should they be ashamed and hide it away all anglo-saxon style? It's not exactly the Brazilian way. But just so you get an idea of how I feel, see below:
Now do you know what I mean?
The Gutter Twins - God's Children (from the album Saturnalia)
The Flaming Lips - God Walks Among Us (from the album 1984 - 1990 (A Collection Of Songs Representing An Enthusiasm For Recording . . . By Amateurs))
The Future - Future Religion (from the album The Golden Hour of the Future)
April 13th is the day of the office boys and the young.
Man alive, do Brazilians love to get their Jesus on. And when you come from a largely secular country as I do, it can be a little disorienting to see such obvious shows of faith. 90% of the people I see reading in public are reading the Bible. It is very common to see people wearing t-shirts proclaiming their faith and devotion to the almighty. I also find it a little embarrassing, in my own English way, to see such a public display of emotion. Surely this is a private thing, to be respected, but kept to yourself? They parade it in the same way that I used to show off my taste in US indie bands when I sixteen: put it on your chest.
I guess this says more about me then it does about them, after all, why should they be ashamed and hide it away all anglo-saxon style? It's not exactly the Brazilian way. But just so you get an idea of how I feel, see below:
Now do you know what I mean?
The Gutter Twins - God's Children (from the album Saturnalia)
The Flaming Lips - God Walks Among Us (from the album 1984 - 1990 (A Collection Of Songs Representing An Enthusiasm For Recording . . . By Amateurs))
The Future - Future Religion (from the album The Golden Hour of the Future)
April 13th is the day of the office boys and the young.
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5 comments:
Its weird, I always hate when Kaka does that. It makes me like him - as a player - just a bit less. And I'm nominally Catholic, too, and from a country where catholicism is also quite a public thread in the culture. (But then Kaka isn't actually Catholic, is he?)
I guess the thinking is to influence/recruit/convert other people who are "lost" and watching. Because I doubt God is all that impressed that anybody wore a t-shirt.
Hey james! great topic.
Maybe Jesus (or "Jebus" accordingly to Homer Simpson)is our only salvation...hehehehe
cheers
Oh! And by the way, Kaka is from and Evangelic church which has been recently caught in some illicit acts...
So Dave, does this dislike of Kaka's behaviour come from the same discomfort that I feel on a daily basis? Or is it based in something else? I get slightly annoyed that God's getting all the credit for his skill, when really it's the hard work that has got him where he is.
I'm not sure the primary reason for the t-shirt wearing is to convert the heathens, I think it's more, in the footballers case, to do with showing the Lord in a very basic way, how grateful they are to have received these gifts / opportunities etc. I think if they take in a few converts along the way, then that's a bonus.
And as Marcio points out, the Evangelical church to which Kaka belongs is a highly dubious organisation, which just adds to the ridiculousness of the whole thing.
Well written article.
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