Brazilian laicity: catholics, pentecostals and laics disputing on the public sphere

Abstract

The paper examines, summarily, the sociological debate about concept of secularization and compares it to the concept of laicity. It analyses the limits of Brazilian laicity and focuses on the relationship between religion and politics in Brazil. It shows that the competition between Catholics and Pentecostals extrapolated the religious field and migrated to the spheres midiatic and politics. And highlights the occurrence of intenses clashes in Brazilian public sphere between Christian and laics groups about the place and role of religion, laicity of State, human rights, social, sexual and reproductive rights of minorities.