ABSTRACT
Most anthropological studies of Protestantism in small-scale societies start from the question of conversion from an earlier religious system to some Protestant denomination. Protestants introduced the idea that everyday speech by ordinary people can, when accompanied by God's grace, be divinely inspired. Protestantism in its many variants grew out of "protests" against certain practices of the Church, beginning with Martin Luther and John Calvin, who gave rise to the Lutheran churches and to a line of "reformed" churches including Presbyterians. One group of churches that has attempted to remain faithful to Calvin call themselves "Primitive Baptists". James Peacock and Ruel Tyson recount how the two groups of churches have come into conflict over their differing ideas of authority and community. In Brazil, where Umbanda and Macumba had become popular as supplements or alternatives to Catholicism, many are finding that Charismatic churches that focus worship on God but offer the opportunity to speak in tongues combine the best of both worlds.
