A arte de benzer e seus processos de (re)construção na cidade de Tefé - AM

Abstract

The art of benzer or healing is understood as one of the many forms of ritualization of faith. This practice is another one of the heritages of indigenous peoples who over the years has suffered influences from Africans and the Catholic religion that has been brought to Brazil by the Portuguese. In view of this, this research seeks to understand how the blessing process occurs, pointing out its influences and the path that the benzedor follows until it is ready to perform the prayers. And specifically:describe the origin of the act of benzer reporting some types of blessings and discuss their reconstruction processes; demonstrate how an individual becomes a benzedor and what it takes to become one; tell how benzedura affects the lives of those who practice it and those who are adept at her. The present study originated from personal concern, as the municipality of Tefé has a strong tradition of blessing is common to witness or hearing about these practices, because of this, since my childhood had the curiosity to know the origins and motivations of this art. The study was conducted in Tefé with a field research and also followed a theoretical division with qualitative approach and bibliographical research, bringing the contributions of authors who discuss the theme of blessing:Cunha; Durand (2011), Figueiredo (2008), Gomes; Pereira (1989), Hoffmann-Horochovski (2012), Quintana (1999), Silva (2009), Malinowski (1978) among others. As for the results, we affirm that even with advances in modern medicine the art of benzer is still an act applicant in the current company,people seek blessing for various reasons and the benzedor is seen as the figure of the one who has a gift received by God and is here to help people.