Abstract:
In light of contemporary anthropological discussions about the relationship between the religious and the secular, this article describes catholic missionary activity in the Ribeira Valley region in defense of the rights of quilombola communities. In this context, two important entities act - MOAB and EAACONE -, whose foundation and work are closely associated with the work of catholic missionaries who, in defense of life and dignity, and under the inspiration of biblical categories, mobilize community leaders, redefine practices, promote meetings and political demonstrations to claim the rights of quilombola community in public space. By describing the missionary activity of these religious, it is intended to shed light on their participation in the production of politics and on how they build their religious experience in intersection with politics and the state.
Keywords:
catholic missionaries; quilombola communities; ethnicity; Ribeira Valley