This article sheds light on a phenomenon that has been called ex- or post-evangelicalism, noticed first in the USA – especially since Donald Trump’s election in 2016 – and then in Brazil, more notably in connection with the rise of Bolsonarism. Based on a series of interviews, the article examines the reasons why a number of people formerly connected to evangelical churches are ceasing to name their evangelical affiliation, particularly as the connection between important evangelical leaders and the far-right government of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil has gained prominence in the past few years. On top of such a connection, the article shows that among the motives that drive individuals and communities away from their former evangelical identity are the instances evangelical churches have taken against religious plurality, black and indigenous cultures, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

This article explores the intersection between history, mission, and theology in Latin America by shedding light on the encounter between North American missionary Richard Shaull and Brazilian theologian and poet Rubem Alves. It examines Shaull’s impact on Alves as Alves became, first, one of the founders of Latin American liberation theology and, later, one of its challengers as he moved away from normative theological language towards theopoetics. In this article, I underscore particular snapshots of Alves’ vast work, noting that the images of the poet and the prophet that permeate much of it are not mutually exclusive. I argue that Rubem Alves’ provocative work remains an important resource for a theory of action that takes subjectivity and beauty seriously. Throughout this article, Shaull and Alves are presented as different but complementary thinkers, representative of Alves’ prophetic and poetic types. It is argued that a closer look at the similarities and complementarities in the works of this duo may provide us with new insights through which Rubem Alves’ poetic voice and Richard Shaull’s prophetic persistence can come together as resources for the reimagination of our hopes for a more beautiful and just world.

Apresentação do Número Especial sobre ENSINO RELIGIOSO 2020