A cautionary tale from Brazil

[LuisDantas]

The UCKG (IURD in Portuguese) is a wildly succesfull (in the monetary and demographic senses) church of rather questionable merits. Many Brazilians feel at once that it is beneath them, yet useful to keep those of ill fortunes hopeful.

Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perhaps not entirely by coincidence in these times of ISIS expansion, it recently began an initiative that it calls "Gladiatores do Altar" (Altar Gladiators) that has brought not a little disconfort among Brazilians, to the point of earning a few words of warning from other churches.

IMO the lesson to be learned is that it is just way too easy to nurture fanatical, dangerous devotion when it goes unquestioned and unchallenged. The youth needs to feel integrated to its own culture, and the highly individualistic situation of Brazilian society leaves the field open to these sad, dangerous obscenities.

 

[SkylarHunter]

Nossa Luis, Isso é coisa de loucos. Faz lembrar a Alemanha nazi. A IURD quer fazer um exército??? Pra quê?

 

[philbo]

IMO the lesson to be learned is that it is just way too easy to nurture fanatical, dangerous devotion when it goes unquestioned and unchallenged. The youth needs to feel integrated to its own culture, and the highly individualistic situation of Brazilian society leaves the field open to these sad, dangerous obscenities.

It is way too easy, I agree; and even when questioned and challenged - the human mind is extremely good at ignoring challenges to its preconceived conclusions.

Part of me wonders whether we're seeing an upsurge in fanatical religious devotion because there is one, or because globally things are that much more visible. Certainly today's communications make the message far easier to spread around a far wider audience than was ever possible at any other time in history, so maybe they're all simply tapping into a tendency which has always been there.

 

[Jumi]

What do these guys do besides march inside a church and do their version of the "Roman salute"?

 

[Koldo]

What do these guys do besides march inside a church and do their version of the "Roman salute"?

As far as I know, they are supposed to convert people.

 

[Jumi]

According to wiki they scam people for money.

Doesn't sound like fun.

 

[LuisDantas]

What do these guys do besides march inside a church and do their version of the "Roman salute"?

They swear to be dedicated "to the altar" and, according to this source from the IURD itself:

Universal responde ataque de deputado federal - Universal.org

1. Gladiadores do Altar é um projeto da Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus de orientação e formação de jovens vocacionados para a propagação da Fé Cristã, que funciona desde janeiro de 2015.

Their purpose is supposed to be "spreading the Christian Faith"

2. A disciplina que o projeto Gladiadores oferece aos seus membros é apenas aquela espiritual.

The discipline taught to them is "solely spiritual".

3. Seus membros são voluntários da Força Jovem Universal, programa social que conta com milhões de jovens em todo o Brasil e em outros países e que desenvolve atividades culturais, sociais e esportivas para auxiliar no resgate e amparo de populações de rua, viciados, jovens carentes e em conflito com lei.

Their membership are volunteers of a social program with millions of members in Brazilian and foreign youth that aims to "rescue and support street people, addicts, dispossessed youngsters at odd with the law".

4. A Força Jovem também promove campanhas de doação de sangue, de alimentos, roupas e livros para comunidades carentes e para clínicas de recuperação.

They also promote donation of blood, food, clothing and books for needful communities and recovery clinics.

5. Realiza ações de conscientização e cidadania – como o incentivo ao jovem que obtenha o título de eleitor.

Promotes efforts of awareness and citizenship such as encouragement for obtaining their voter licenses.

6. Oferece cursos profissionalizantes gratuitos a pessoas carentes e as encaminha ao mercado de trabalho.

Offers job-earning courses for free to people in need and directs them towards the job market.

7. Apoia socorristas em situações de emergência e tragédias, com a entrega de água, alimentos e outros materiais necessários.

Supports first aid workers in emergency situations, distributing water, food and supplies.


They go on to compare the suspicions about the Gladiators with hypothetical similar suspicions about the Salvation Army and the Boy Scouts.

Personally, I stand very much worried. I have some personal experience with the IURD, enough so not to trust their claims about pretty much anything.