Universal Church of the Kingdom of God

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Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD, from Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, UCKG) is the name for a rapidly growing Brazilian new religious movement. The church is spreading world-wide, especially in Portuguese-speaking countries.

Contents

[edit] History

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God adopted its current name in 1979. It was originally founded in 1977, by Edir Macedo and R. R. Soares. Macedo and Soares had been preachers of a more traditional Evangelical church, but decided to create a new church whose doctrines more closely reflected their own view of the Gospel. After the Church creation, Soares ruptured and established his own Church of the Grace of God (later renamed International Church of the Grace of God).

According to historical exposition by UCKG's bishop Marcelo Crivella, the UCKG and the Church of the Grace share the Pentecostal Church of New Life as a common origin. The division would have been caused by differences of vision of their leaders: while the Church of New Life, directed by the Canadian preacher Robert McAlister, focused on the believers' spiritual improvement, both Macedo and Soares directed their work at showing God's power to non-believers. Whilst Soares emphasized divine cure, Macedo focused on liberation from evil.

The UCKG today is the fastest-growing religious organization in Brazil, with 6 million followers as of 2006. The Church treats an expansion to other countries as one of its main goals. According to the UCKG official website, the Church today is present in 115 nations worldwide.

[edit] Doctrines

UCKG's statutes of faith describe thirteen basic doctrines:

  • the existence of one and only God, in the form of the Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
  • the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,
  • Salvation for those who have faith in Christ,
  • eternal life,
  • inerrancy of the Bible, which was written by men divinely inspired by God,
  • the Church as the universal union of all the Christians,
  • baptism by immersion,
  • divine healing,
  • the baptism with the Holy Spirit,
  • the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
  • the Holy Supper(or, "Lord's Supper"),
  • the tithe and voluntary giving,
  • Prosperity theology.

Thus presented, such doctrines are similar to those of many of the other Christian denominations, particularly those of a Protestant, especially of Pentecostal character. A possible exception is the emphasis on prosperity.

A more detailed study of these basic doctrinal principles raises rather more subtle differences to other Christian faiths.

[edit] Practices

The doctrines of the UCKG influence the organization of the church and the lifestyles of its followers. This has not always been clear: as in many other religious groups, the behavior of the members is influenced much more by traditions or unwritten rules.

[edit] Spirituality

The followers believe the work of fallen spirits or demons (sometimes called "encostos") have real oppressing power on people. Such oppressing spirits can act directly on the person, through a demonic possession, or around of it, conspiring, through other people or circumstances. These evil spirits may be facilitated through "breaches." (lapses of behavior or in the connection to God).

A related activity is the emphasis put on exorcism and rites of rebuke of the evil. These elements play a vital role in worship and religious celebrations.

Another apparent development are thematic cults. These religious meetings are done on specific dates for specific causes. They are common for entrepreneurs, the unemployed, depressed sick people, etc.

[edit] Ecclesiastical organization

The UCKG follows an episcopal model that can rudimentarily be compared with the model used by the Catholic Church.

Each local congregation of the UCKG counts on some workers, who are subordinated to the pastors and people in charge of lesser works. Workers invite people to participate in worship, arrange the reception of the people that arrive at the temples, visit homes of patients and the hospitals, aid the pastors, etc. The pastors do the religious service, orient the workers, and administrate the local church. The latter includes financial aspects. Above the pastor are the bishops (Bispos), who regulate the doctrinal lines and supervise the work of the shepherds.

Different levels of importance and influence exist among bishops in a way unlike the Roman Catholic Church. Although there are varying levels of importance there are no higher ranks then bishop.

It is expected that Church members become workers. Most pastors were promoted from lesser hierarchical positions after some time serving the Church. Pastors, furthermore, aspire to become bishops.

This entire process requires certain preparations and the approval of superiors.

[edit] Controversies

Not only is the Church the fastest-growing religious organization in Brazil, the UCKG members are also fairly outspoken on its beliefs and goals. This lead to debates within the Brazilian religious sphere in the past two decades, concerning the nature of the UCKG's growth and its consequences.

Some suggest that the criticism is fueled by religious or political motivations, or simply to discredit a media rival. The most important media scandal involving the UCKG was the "kick of the saint" incident, described later in this article.

[edit] Media empire

The UCKG is frowned upon by some Brazilians, particularly mainstream newspapers and newsmagazines. Their involvement in telecommunications has also brought controversy.

In 1989 the UCKG acquired Rede Record, a media conglomerate (including a major national television) headquartered in Sao Paulo. The Church also controls 30 radio stations, two newspapers and a magazine.

Recently the UCKG extented its media acquisitions to other nations, particularly in Latin America.

[edit] Politics

The UCKG is today an important political player in Brazil. 18 congressmen elected in the 2002 paliamentary elections to the Chamber of Deputies (Lower House), and 1 senator, bishop Marcelo Crivella, a member of the Senate (Upper House), publicly declared themselves to be members of the Church and actively sought votes from Church members.

Politicians from various political parties consider support from the UCKG a valuable advantage.

Many high-ranked church members- "bishops"- have been involved in notable corruption scandals, such as the recent Mensalão scandal.

[edit] Tithe

The tithe is present in diverse abrahamic religions, a continuation of the tradition instituted as sacrifice Melchizedek offered to the patriach Abraham. (Genesis 14,18-24) This practice was regularly incorporated into judaism in the times of Moses, and Christianity inherited this, with tithes being not unusual in Christian denominations.

Accusations concerning the tithe in the UCKG is that it is said to be charged or demanded rather than being given voluntary or in accordance with the personal circumstances of the believer. Many defend the practice as acceptable and fair. Still the motivation for contribution is frequently questioned by the critics of the UCKG. Many believe their giving in the tithe will literally be repaid in a sense.

For the critics, the Church does not specify whether blessings are received for contributing in a spiritual or material way. The expectation of material reward among some followers is viewed dimly by other faiths. They argue contributing with intention to receive repayment, instead of for voluntary love, is egoistic and selfish. Additionally, critics state that the tithe is possibly encouraged by UCKG's leaders strictly to increase the volume of money they collect.

[edit] Evangelical churches

Other Protestant and Evangelical groups do not have a unanimous opinion of the UCKG. In both cases the terms cover a diversity of religious orientations. Many of these groups use the expression "Theology of the Prosperity" to accuse the UCKG members of seeking material gain from their faith. Another accusation is that the UCKG officers have little Biblical knowledge. They criticize the alleged superficiality of their knowledge as possibly being caused by the materialistic concerns of the UCKG. One of the consequences of this Biblical "superficiality", critics claim, is that traces of non-Christians rituals like the use of salt or branches of rue. (These do not have Biblical basis per se, but are more derived from African religions, despite the fact that the UCKG is an outspoken opponent of African religions) Salt and rue are used in rituals of purification or exorcism.

On the other hand many critics of the UCKG recognize the efficiency of the Church's missionary work. Evangelicals are pleased that they turned some people away from problems like vices and depression, in favor of the salvation in Jesus Christ. Many Protestants, including the older denominations, recognize the success of the UCKG in reaching sectors of the society that had been untouched by the evangelical faith throughout the years or with which they had trouble reaching because of inadequate language.

[edit] Catholic Church

There are many differences in theological beliefs between the UCKG and the Catholic Church, Brazil's major religion. The most prominent question is UCKG's vehement condemnation of dulia (veneration of saints and martyrs), which evokes reactions and manifestations of repulse from Catholics. Like other Protestant denominations, UCKG's position is that Catholics veneration of saints constitutes idolatry.

[edit] Beliefs of African origin

The UCKG leaders state that incorporation of elements of African origin to Christianity should be avoided. This is a common practice in Brazil, deriving from colonial times, when African slaves adapted Catholic religious practices to their rituals. Religious syncretism gave birth to modern Brazilian religions Umbanda and Candomblé. The UCKG repudiates such beliefs as corrupted and perverse, akin to worship of demons. Unsurprisingly followers of African religions have demonstrated outrage.

In the beginning of 2005, animosity between the UCKG and African religions' practicers reached its peak. This occurred because of a new edition of a book by bishop Edir Macedo, in which he associates African deities and spiritual entities to demons and creatures in service of Satan. He adds that the objective of these forces is in opposition to the will of Yahweh, God of the Christians, as well as the destruction of the integrity and the ruin of humans. Some people, particularly in the state of Bahia, notorious for bearing the largest number of members of African-Brazilian religions, have required the book to be censored. On the other hand, local newspapers of the city of Rio de Janeiro reported about violent acts committed by UCKG followers against praticants of African-Brazilian religions, such as throwing stones and beating.

[edit] Belgian Parliament Inquiry

A 1997 Belgian Parliament Inquiry Committee on Sects .pdf file with text in French and Dutch labeled the UCKG as a dangerous cult. According to the Committee's report, the UCKG is out to defraud believers. The report said that "This is an authentic crime organization whose only goal is to enrich itself. This is an extreme form of religious merchandising."

Another excerpt: "[The Church] pretends that the Kingdom of God is down here and that it can offer a solution to every possible problem, depression, unemployment, family and financial problems. In fact, [the UCKG] apparently seems to be a truly criminal association, whose only purpose is enriching."[1]

The Committee's final report was rejected by Belgian courts and has had few practical consequences.[2]

[edit] The "Kicking of the Saint"

The most serious controversy involving the UCKG is the episode known as the "Kick of the Saint." In the early hours of October 12, 1995 - a holiday in honor of national Catholic patron Our Lady of Aparecida - UCKG's bishop Sergio von Helde expressed his objection to icon worship on the UCKG-owned Record TV.

The way he showed his hostility gained notice. He walked to an image of Brazil's patron and proceeded to hit it several times with his feet. Von Helde simultaneously shouted "This is no god" and "Can God really be compared to this ugly thing?" 884K QuickTime Movie.

This incident caused commotion in Brazil. Media outlets repeatedly depicted the scene for many days. The large Catholic community responded with ire, often using violent means. Followers of other religions also expressed reprovation. Von Helde's kicks sparked great hostility against the UCKG (and, to a lesser extent, Protestants in general) that dates to current times.

Additionally several public authorities supported the initial commotion and hostility to the group. State marshalls, public attorneys and politicians, as well as ordinary people from all over the country, filed many complaints against both Von Helde and the UCKG, alleging crimes of vilification and disrespect of the constitutional right to freedom of worship. The case occupied large portions of the news for many days, until its ratings potential was completely exhausted.

[edit] Consequences

Although it lost media attention, the "kick in the saint" case left scars in a generation of Brazilians. It is still brought back to memory by groups opposing the UCKG, especially in the political sphere.

Consequences of the case are stronger among Catholics. However, some segments of the Catholic population argue that the issue was exaggerated. According to them a saint's image is not in itself sacred, unless it has been sanctified by a competent priest, and since Von Helde probably didn't bother to sanctify the one he kicked, he had indeed kicked just an ordinary doll, and not an object of Catholic devotion. For those who support this idea, the case, while still showing some disdain and disrespect of another's faith, was more a media phenomenon than a severe religious schism.

Among protestant and other Evangelical groups views vary even more. Since they believe that Jesus is the only true way to God, they agree with UCKG in deeming saints' images as idols. For this reason, many of them were simpathetic to the UCKG's fearless speaking of what they saw as Evangelical truth. Other Protestants argued that it was gratuitous and unnecessary disrespect. The two groups then had some friction between one another; UCKG supporters accused the others of cowardice and attempting to get illegitimate sympathy from Catholics, while the latter accused the former of inconsequential fanaticism.

[edit] External links

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