The Castrated Phallic God: Representations of Kurupi in Brazilian Religious Education

Kurupi, a phallic Tupi-Guarani deity widely worshipped across Latin America, takes on distinct cultural adaptations in Brazil, influenced by significant historical forces. Despite the impact of the Tupi language on Brazilian culture, the colonial-era criminalization of Indigenous practices and later...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Authors: Stern, Fábio L. (Author) ; de Souza, Camila André (Author) ; Júnior, Antônio Pedro Lima (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: International journal of Latin American religions
Year: 2025, Pages: 269-285
Further subjects:B Indigenous Religion
B African Religions
B Indigenous religions
B Tupi-Guarani mythology
B Pagan Religions
B Indian Religions
B Decolonial studies
B Comparative Religion
B Cultural adaptation
B Paganism
B Brazilian religious education
B Orientalism
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Kurupi, a phallic Tupi-Guarani deity widely worshipped across Latin America, takes on distinct cultural adaptations in Brazil, influenced by significant historical forces. Despite the impact of the Tupi language on Brazilian culture, the colonial-era criminalization of Indigenous practices and later adaptations have resulted in a desexualized portrayal of Kurupi in Brazilian classrooms. This study compares representations of Kurupi by religious education teachers from São Paulo and the Amazon region. While educators in the Amazon tend to lean towards traditional Indigenous portrayals, teachers in São Paulo often incorporate syncretic elements, blending Indigenous and African influences shaped by popular media. We explore how these portrayals reflect broader trends in Orientalism and show how the Brazilian education system reshapes Indigenous myths to align with dominant urban perspectives, separating them from their cultural roots.
ISSN:2509-9965
Contains:Enthalten in: International journal of Latin American religions
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s41603-024-00276-3