Ex- and Post-Evangelicalism: Recent Developments in Brazil’s Changing Religious Landscape

Abstract

This article sheds light on a phenomenon that has been called ex- or post-evangelicalism, noticed first in the USA – especially since Donald Trump’s election in 2016 – and then in Brazil, more notably in connection with the rise of Bolsonarism. Based on a series of interviews, the article examines the reasons why a number of people formerly connected to evangelical churches are ceasing to name their evangelical affiliation, particularly as the connection between important evangelical leaders and the far-right government of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil has gained prominence in the past few years. On top of such a connection, the article shows that among the motives that drive individuals and communities away from their former evangelical identity are the instances evangelical churches have taken against religious plurality, black and indigenous cultures, and LGBTQIA+ communities.