Meanings of culture in relation to religion: Cultural policies and religious diversity in Brazil

Abstract

What meanings does the notion of culture take in public policies that involve religious agents in Brazil? Presenting answers to such a question is the aim of this article. To this end, three areas in which state investments related to “culture” target religious universes are analyzed: projects that seek resources through the so-called Rouanet Law; projects contemplated as “Points of Culture”; and projects aimed at strengthening cultural tourism related to religion. Using statistics and ethnographic narratives, the text analyzes the way in which the category of “culture” is conceived and appropri-ated, considering the assumptions of the public policies addressed and the configura-tions assumed by concrete situations. The background for this analysis concerns the objectification of the notion of culture, which has become part of social vernaculars and has been linked to demands for rights or involved in wide conflicts of interpretation. The conclusions highlight the relationship of the various meanings assumed by this notion with more or less pluralistic contexts about religious diversity in Brazil today.