Paper short abstract:

This paper aims to discuss the body and its performance in two different Brazilian religious groups. The research is justified because of the importance of demonstrating how body and its performance in these religions are associated with soul and spirit in possession and cure rituals.

Paper long abstract:

In Brazil, the contemporary religious field shows itself more and more plural. It results an intense religious transit and it produces religious segments based on elements of many religions. One of this elements that has occupied a huge space in emotional religions and that has been breaking the dichotomy of sacred and profane is the body. The place of the body in tradicional christian religions was thought as the place of danger and sin. According to the religious context, in afro-brazilian religions and pentecostalism the performance of the body can mean the cure, the devil or god´s possession and the evil´s purge. This paper aims to discuss the body and its performance in both religions: candomble and neopentecostalim. The research is justified because of the importance to demonstrate how body and its performance in both religions are associated with the notions of soul and spirit in possession and cure rituals.