A história do Mormonismo em Portugal
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2022
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Este trabalho académico tem o objetivo de desenvolver o conhecimento sobre a
jornada d’A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias, seus princípios e
doutrinas. Além de uma introdução em relação à sua posição religiosa a nível mundial, a
dissertação instruirá sobre o seu início em Portugal, o seu crescimento e a sua influência
religiosa no país que tem surpreendido académicos, religiosos, políticos, jornalistas,
sociólogos e investigadores na área das ciências das religiões.
A transição política ocorrida após o 25 de Abril de 1974 abriu as portas para o
progresso da liberdade religiosa em Portugal. Durante o processo, alguns membros d’A
Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias dos Estados Unidos da América, que
residiam em Portugal, exerceram alguma influência junto do governo português nesse
processo legislativo, para auxiliar a aprovação da liberdade religiosa, de forma a criar um
país aberto, um país livre. Todos os processos para fazer crescer a religião da Igreja de
Jesus Cristo e a liberdade para todas as outras religiões foram seguidos, e com o auxílio
do Ministro da Justiça, foi incentivada a abertura de Portugal a uma nova religião e fé.
No decorrer da investigação, é surpreendente constatar como A Igreja de Jesus
Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias se tornou a segunda igreja cristã mais proeminente
em Portugal, sendo que além de ser uma igreja recente em comparação a outras mais
entranhadas na história de Portugal, existia uma aversão à restrição do sacerdócio aos
negros, à polémica doutrina da poligamia e à origem da sua base como igreja, que seria
os Estados Unidos da América.
Sendo a Igreja Católica Apostólica Romana a religião cristã mais representativa
em Portugal, sempre se cogitou que as igrejas Evangélicas tinham mais preponderância
para crescer e vincar no país devido à totalidade dos seus fiéis. Constato que no conjunto
das igrejas que compõem a Aliança Evangélica, é uma realidade que o seu peso social no
país é substancial, mas na separação individual de cada confissão religiosa, é uma
realidade factual que A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias, é a segunda
igreja cristã com maior número de fiéis, sendo um total de 40.941 membros.
Como resultado do que foi mencionado acima, este trabalho reflete uma
investigação profunda de como A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias
surgiu, se estabeleceu, organizou, cresceu, e solidificou como instituição religiosa no
mundo, mas especialmente em Portugal, apesar das suas doutrinas e tradições religiosas
cujas crenças opunham a visão tradicional de certos conceitos em relação à Trindade e às escrituras, ainda mais sendo algumas delas antagónicas à cultura e credos existentes no
país.
Este trabalho académico vai refletir também sobre as tradições religiosas,
culturais e socias que A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias importou para
o país e para os seus membros; privilegiando a diversidade dos membros, a sua integração
social, uma instrução para suplementar uma mudança comportamental dos seus membros
no que diz respeito à moralidade, ética e fé. E que, desse modo, ambicionavam amparar
os membros da Igreja.
Uma das novidades que A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias
introduziu no país foi uma teologia singular, comparada com as outras crenças cristãs
existentes em Portugal. Entre outras diferenças, a igreja incorporou outras formas de
pensar sobre a Fé em Jesus Cristo, a doutrina da Criação, a expiação de Cristo, a
ressurreição, um conceito sobre a doutrina da Graça, bem como uma compreensão mais
ampla do plano de salvação, onde podemos perceber de onde viemos, porque estamos
aqui e para onde vamos depois de morrermos. Além da explicação da doutrina e
procedimentos, analisarei como as doutrinas se diferenciam de outras religiões cristãs no
país. Sendo elas o cristianismo católico, ortodoxo oriental, protestante e evangélico.
Sem dúvida que todas as religiões abraâmicas têm verdades, práticas, rituais e
ordenações comuns em relação às suas crenças, mas é notório que este estudo vai também
incidir no conhecimento, nas diferenças da exegese do texto sagrado e dar a conhecer a
estrutura organizacional da própria igreja, que a leva a ser uma das instituições no mundo
mais respeitáveis no que concerne ao trabalho humanitário e serviço ao próximo.
Concluirei o trabalho ao elaborar como a reflexão da sua ideologia está presente
num crescimento sustentado e constante através de um esforço missionário e um desejo
de fazer uma diferença positiva no país.
This academic work has the objective of broadening the awareness and knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as its principles and doctrines. This dissertation will not only introduce the Church’s position worldwide, but it will also speak about its beginning, growth, and religious influence in portugal, which has surprised scholars, religious people, politicians, reporters, sociologists, and researchers in the area of religious sciences. The political transition that occurred after April 25th, 1974, opened doors to the progress that had yet to come concerning religious freedom in Portugal. During this process, some of the North American members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints that lived in Portugal, had some influence concerning the legislative process to aid the approval of religious freedom in order to create an open and freer country. All of the processes to create and grow this new religion of the Church of jesus Christ were followed, thus opening the doors to religious freedom for other religions. With the help of the Ministry of Justice, Portugal was encouraged to have a new religion and faith. During this research, it was surprising to find that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the second most prominent Christian church in Portugal, even though it is one of the most recent churches when compared to the most ingrained churches in Portugal´s history, along with the aversion to the restriction concerning the priesthood and persons of color, the controversy related to the polygamy doctrine and the headquarters location of the church, it being in the United States of America. Since the Roman Catholic Church is the best well represented Christian church in Portugal, it has always been thought that the Evangelical churches would have more preponderance to and space to grow in the country due to the number of faithful followers. I note that in the group of churches that make up the Evangelical Alliance, it is a reality that their social strength in the country is substantial, but in the individual separation of each religious denomination, it is a factual reality that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the second Christian church with the largest number of believers, with a total of 40,941 members. As a result of what has been mentioned above, this work reflects the profound research of how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has come to the country, been established, organized and solidified as a religious institution in the world, but specially in Portugal, even though its doctrines and religious traditions opposed the traditional view of certain concepts concerning the Trinity and scriptural books, thus being contrary to existing culture and beliefs in the country. This academic research will also reflect about religious, cultural, and social traditions that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has brought to the country and its members; the diversity of the members, their social integration, an instruction to supplement a behavioral change of its members regarding morality, ethics, and faith was a privileged add on. And in this way, they aimed to support the members of the Church. One of the novelties that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced to the country was a unique theology, compared to the other Christian faiths existing in Portugal. Among other distinctions, the Church incorporated other ways of thinking about Faith in Jesus Christ, the doctrine of Creation, the Atonement of Christ, the resurrection, a concept about the doctrine of Grace, as well as a broader understanding of the plan of salvation--where we can understand where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going after we die. In addition to the explanation of doctrine and policies, I will analyze how the doctrines differ from other Christian religions in the country. these being Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical Christianity. Without question, all the Abrahamic religions have common truths, practices, rituals, and ordinances regarding their beliefs, but it is noteworthy that this study will also focus on the knowledge, differences in the exegesis of the sacred text, and make known the organizational structure of the Church itself, which leads it to be one of the most respectable institutions in the world regarding humanitarian work and service. I will conclude this dissertation by elaborating on how the reflection of its ideology is present and in constant growth through missionary efforts and a desire to make a positive difference in the country.
This academic work has the objective of broadening the awareness and knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as its principles and doctrines. This dissertation will not only introduce the Church’s position worldwide, but it will also speak about its beginning, growth, and religious influence in portugal, which has surprised scholars, religious people, politicians, reporters, sociologists, and researchers in the area of religious sciences. The political transition that occurred after April 25th, 1974, opened doors to the progress that had yet to come concerning religious freedom in Portugal. During this process, some of the North American members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints that lived in Portugal, had some influence concerning the legislative process to aid the approval of religious freedom in order to create an open and freer country. All of the processes to create and grow this new religion of the Church of jesus Christ were followed, thus opening the doors to religious freedom for other religions. With the help of the Ministry of Justice, Portugal was encouraged to have a new religion and faith. During this research, it was surprising to find that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the second most prominent Christian church in Portugal, even though it is one of the most recent churches when compared to the most ingrained churches in Portugal´s history, along with the aversion to the restriction concerning the priesthood and persons of color, the controversy related to the polygamy doctrine and the headquarters location of the church, it being in the United States of America. Since the Roman Catholic Church is the best well represented Christian church in Portugal, it has always been thought that the Evangelical churches would have more preponderance to and space to grow in the country due to the number of faithful followers. I note that in the group of churches that make up the Evangelical Alliance, it is a reality that their social strength in the country is substantial, but in the individual separation of each religious denomination, it is a factual reality that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the second Christian church with the largest number of believers, with a total of 40,941 members. As a result of what has been mentioned above, this work reflects the profound research of how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has come to the country, been established, organized and solidified as a religious institution in the world, but specially in Portugal, even though its doctrines and religious traditions opposed the traditional view of certain concepts concerning the Trinity and scriptural books, thus being contrary to existing culture and beliefs in the country. This academic research will also reflect about religious, cultural, and social traditions that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has brought to the country and its members; the diversity of the members, their social integration, an instruction to supplement a behavioral change of its members regarding morality, ethics, and faith was a privileged add on. And in this way, they aimed to support the members of the Church. One of the novelties that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced to the country was a unique theology, compared to the other Christian faiths existing in Portugal. Among other distinctions, the Church incorporated other ways of thinking about Faith in Jesus Christ, the doctrine of Creation, the Atonement of Christ, the resurrection, a concept about the doctrine of Grace, as well as a broader understanding of the plan of salvation--where we can understand where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going after we die. In addition to the explanation of doctrine and policies, I will analyze how the doctrines differ from other Christian religions in the country. these being Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical Christianity. Without question, all the Abrahamic religions have common truths, practices, rituals, and ordinances regarding their beliefs, but it is noteworthy that this study will also focus on the knowledge, differences in the exegesis of the sacred text, and make known the organizational structure of the Church itself, which leads it to be one of the most respectable institutions in the world regarding humanitarian work and service. I will conclude this dissertation by elaborating on how the reflection of its ideology is present and in constant growth through missionary efforts and a desire to make a positive difference in the country.
Descrição
Orientação: José Brissos-Lino ; co-orientação: Paulo Mendes Pinto
Palavras-chave
MESTRADO EM CIÊNCIA DAS RELIGIÕES, RELIGIÃO, MORMONS, PORTUGAL, RELIGION, MORMONS, PORTUGAL