Viviana Gomez-Sanchez-Critical Review- Rocha, Cristina, (2006)

Cristina Rocha’s study analyses the Brazilian diasporic community in Australia. According to her research, social class plays a more meaningful role than ethnicity in the Brazilian diasporic community. Also, it is argued that religious preferences in the host country reflect the location in the Brazilian social hierarchy.

This study focuses on two religious groups in Sydney, The World Revival Church and Seed of Light. On one hand the World Revival Church represents the lower class Brazilians, while on the other, Seed of Light is patronised by upper class Brazilians.

As shown in this study, each religious group has a different doctrine but both seek to “support pressures and anxieties of migrants” (Rocha 2006:). However, the two main points revealed in this study are: 1) the different doctrines used to reduce anxieties and problems, and 2) the differentiation in social classes between both groups, including differences in technological access and relationships with their respective followers.

The World Revival Church which belongs to the lower class focuses on scriptures, biblical teachings and Jesus as doctrines to follow in order to calm their anxiety. This group would almost certainly struggle to access technology for the development of its community, thereby restricting their ability to expand and propagate their doctrines to others. Furthermore, this restriction negates any improvement of interaction between members in order to facilitate the sharing of experiences.

Seed of Light which belongs to the upper class concentrates its doctrine on the idea of spiritual evolution through reincarnation. This group is known to have benefitted from the use of technology, and has thus witnessed a proliferation in members. The uses of the internet and other technologies have led the community to embrace Seed of Light. Members are able to manage their problems of loneliness and adaptation through mediums who work in consultation for personal problems. Moreover, these advocates provided continual encouragement for members to share experiences or problems and help create solutions.

Throughout this study of Brazilian diasporic communities in Sydney, the differentiation in social classes between two different religious groups is clearly demonstrated. Further in her research, Rocha reveals how each group differentiates in their practices and development because of their disparate social statuses.