An analysis of debate and agents involving the formulation and regulation of curricular guidelines for theology courses in Brazil

Abstract

Reflection about the process that involved several actors in the development of the National Curricular Guidelines - DCNs for theology graduation courses in Brazil. In 2009 there was series of changes in the legal requirements related to these courses’ curriculum. Throughout this paper, I found some of the representatives of these theological education institutions, agents in this dispute, given their different positions and encountering strategies. In this sense, I will put in debate State agency, within this movement, and also as a locus in which different groups defended their interests on the question of theological education – defining categories such as religion and proselytism. To follow this working group led by MEC, composed of representatives of different religions, who formulated the document with the DCNs, allow me to reflect about the relation between religion and State not by immovable concepts, but seeing as an arena where many different interests conflict themselves.