ABSTRACT
Religion, as a social phenomenon, a cultural/social subsystem, is a symbolic expression of social experiences, and it plays a primordial role in the analysis of all human societies. Religion is a decisive element for understanding social life, institutional practices, daily experiences, and the processes of social change (Wilson, 1982). The anthropology of religion, in addition to former studies – of acculturated tribal societies, religious syncretism and messianic movements in societies historically marked by colonialism – has also been studying religious expression in the context of modern countries, particularly in Europe and the United States (Bowie, 2000).
