Surfing and Faith. The contemporary Neo-Pentecostal tribalism in Brazil

Abstract

The article discusses, in reference to Mafessoli’s “new tribalism,” the process of the founding and development of the first local surfers’ church in the insular part of the city of Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina in Brazil, where the culture of surfers has been very strong for several decades. Taking advantage of Mafessoli’s
theory, the author presents, in the context of the collected data, arguments for the possibility of recognizing the first “Surfers’ Church” as an example of a new religious tribal community.