Curar como arte e ofício: as influências do processo de urbanização pós – 1943 na crença da população da cidade de Macapá nas Benzedeiras

Abstract

This research addresses the study of belief in relation to the practices of benzedura in the city of Macapá. In traditional communities, women healers have played multiple roles, as heads of families, organizers and conductors of religious rituals, leaders and founders of villages. They perform many types of work, some of them not always considered as female tasks in other societies and cultures. Planning, blessing, and healing are part of their God-given mission- the divine will has to be obeyed, but it does not exempt them from daily toil. Their figures emerge as strong women, fearless, independent, and brave fighters, able to overcome domestic leadership, where they are, in most cases, the main providers for the family, and also community leaders. This study aims to analyze the effects of the urbanization process on the belief of the people of the city of Macapá in the Benzedeiras.