ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the passage from the living word of the founder of a religion to the construction of a system of belief as a continuous process for putting the spirit in order. Putting the spirit in order is a job well done when the fluidity and vitality of the word is contained and regulated by the language in which it is written in a document that is considered sacred. Authority and power are really distinct domains in the context of religions. A prophet may be acknowledged as a source of authority even though they may not possess the tools of power needed to impose a certain message. The Universal Church condemns the Afro-Brazilian cults, but they are a part of socio-religious environment in which this church seeks to differentiate itself. The concept of order is often associated with that of the law in many religions, and priests are assigned a combination of religious and judicial functions.
