O presbiterianianismo em Juiz de Fora: sua implantação tardia em 1950

Abstract

In this research I analyze the late introduction of Presbyterianism in the city of Juiz de Fora in 1950. At the time of its introduction in Juiz de Fora, the Presbyterianism in Brazil was close to complete one hundred years of the arrival of the first North American presbyterian missionary. The city of Juiz de Fora began to have prominence in the time of the Empire because of its development, and had become the main economic center of the state. In 1861, two presbyterian missionaries of the Colony D. Pedro II have been in the city and have visited German immigrants. Despite the importance that Juiz de Fora had and the visits done by the presbyterian missionaries, the Presbyterianism would only be introduced in 1950, a period in which there were already other Protestant churches installed in the city. Therefore, I try to understand the reasons for such postponement. To do this, I consider primarily the difficulties faced by the Protestantism to be introduced in Brazil, as well as in the city of Juiz de Fora, because of the strong resistance of Catholicism. I try to analyze if the opposition of the Catholicism to the Protestantism interfered causing the postponement of the introduction of Presbyterianism in Juiz de Fora and if there was another reason that determined that.