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Paper short abstract

This paper discusses how Portuguese and Spanish Pentecostal Gypsies have promoted, since the 1960's, novel notions of self, morality and faith by recognising/redefining a new sense of 'Christianity'. I will look into local uses of the Bible, publishing/publicity dynamics and conversion discourses.

Paper long abstract

The Gypsies in the Iberian Peninsula have, since their arrival to this region (five centuries ago), been often described as 1) black magic or sorcery practitioners; 2) incapable of being "truly" religious; or, in the best of chances, as 3) cheats, adopters of a "cynical" Christianity. In this period, the Portuguese and Spanish religious and governmental institutions have been the main instigators of this paradigm, promoting a conjoint notion of self, morality and faith. Over the last four decades, though, the widespread conversion of Portuguese and Spanish gypsies into Pentecostal Christianity (namely the "Filadelfia" movement) has promoted a redefinition of those concepts in a somewhat surprising manner. Drawing on published memories, "Filadelfia" conversion testimonies and fieldwork accounts, this paper intends to reveal how.