ABSTRACT
This chapter continues the previous one, which focused on temples and the presence of religion as a social and cultural phenomenon within the city. However, in this chapter, the focus shifts to the individual believer's perspective and examines their perception and use of four distinct spatial categories. The first category is home, which is a shelter for individuals and a space for intimate, family-oriented socialising. It is also a place where individual prayers and meditation can occur. The second category discussed here is a street, which represents a crucial element of secular social infrastructure, where religion-related activities may occur but must navigate their presence amidst other activities. The third category discussed in this chapter is the temple, which serves as a space for performing religious duties and engaging in religion-related socialising. Believers meet other members who belong to their “spiritual families”, and while the temple is a place to meet others, the “other” takes on a different meaning than it does in the house or on the street. Most importantly, the temple is the house of God(s/dess). The fourth and final category we discuss is nature, which encompasses everything not directly created by humans. The chapter explores the various ways in which Candomble and Neo-pentecostal believers interpret and interact with nature. By analysing these four categories of space, this chapter illuminates how members of Pentecostal churches and Candombkecistas perceive and enact their beliefs in different spaces.
