Edir Macedo

Edir Macedo Bezerra (born February 18, 1945) is a Brazilian religious leader. Macedo was raised Catholic, but by 1970 was a Pentecostal. He founded the "Neo-Pentecostal" Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil in 1977.

His rapidly growing religious movement has been a source of controversy, as it is considered prosperity theology, i.e. those who follow his teachings are rewarded with material prosperity. His views about other faiths, particularly Catholicism, are also controversial. In 1992, he spent time in jail on accusations of charlatanism.

Criticism

Macedo has earned criticism, especially after the 'kicking of the saint' incident (in which Macedo's ex-bishop Sérgio Von Helder kicked a Catholic icon in a TV program) and his teachings about tithe and donations, which many say exploit the poor.

The "Jornal Nacional" in 1994 exhibited by Rede Globo (a large Brazilian television network) presented an article about how Macedo teaches the church leaders how to convince people to give donations, and exploit churchgoers' poverty and gullibility. The techniques of Edir Macedo, beside other scenes with his bishops, do not coincide with what is preached to the believers during Church sermons.

In August 1989 the journalistic "Documento Especial" of the television network Rede Manchete also presented evidence against the Macedo's church, the UCKG.Fact|date=June 2007

Edir Macedo also was denounced by the public prosecution service for fraudulent import of equipment and use of false public documents and legal proceedings by the Federal Justice were issued. He was later declared innocent.Fact|date=June 2007

Circulating around the internet is message which shows pictures of the interior and exterior of a lavish house. The caption then states that the pictured mansion is one of Edir Macedo's houses "the pastor to the poor." The message is in Portuguese, and mainly circulates among Brazilians.

Other

He also leads the "Rede Record" (the second biggest television network in Brazil), the "Rede Família", the Record News, the Line Records, 37 radio stations "Rede Aleluia" and the "Universal Produções". He has authored several religious book including the polemical best-seller "Orixás, Caboclos e Guias, Deuses ou Demônios". Macedo has a doctorate in Theology and in Christian Philosophy, and an Honorary degree in Divinity, all from the "Faculdade de Educação Teológica do estado de São Paulo".

ee also

* Prosperity Gospel
* Televangelism

External links

* [http://www.uckg.org/ UCKG Help Center] - Official website
* [http://www.igrejauniversal.org.br/ IURD] - Official website in Brazil
* [http://www.bispomacedo.com.br/ Bispo Macedo] - Edir Macedo's official website (in Portuguese)
* [http://www.arcauniversal.com/ Arca Universal, a portal in God's service] - Portal in portuguese
* [http://www.abn.com.br/fotos/bispomacedo.jpgEdir Macedo's photography]