A mística do Contestado: a mensagem de João Maria na experiência religiosa do Contestado e dos seus descendentes

Resumo

O autor apresenta aqui uma síntese da sua dissertação de Mestrado
em Ciências da Religião (PUC/SP, 2005). Parte de uma contextualização do
Contestado, na disputa dos limites territoriais entre os Estados de Santa Catarina
e Paraná (1912-1916). Nesse contexto, surgiu o chamado “movimento popular
do Contestado”, um movimento marcado pelas tradições culturais e religiosas
dos caboclos moradores na área do conflito. Esse movimento caracterizou-se
por uma mística própria, enraizada na mensagem de “monges populares” (dentre
os quais destaca-se João Maria), no espírito de irmandade, numa religião
guerreira. Tal fato constitui para os habitantes da região do Contestado um
universo simbólico próprio.

Abstract: The author presents a synthesis of his Master’s Thesis in the Graduate
School for the degree of Master of Arts in the field of Science of Religion at the
PUC/SP, 2005. At the outset he gives a lucid account of the territory of the
Contestado whose boundaries were in dispute in the States of Santa Catarina
and Paraná, during the years 1912 to 1916. The leaders of a popular uprising
against military detachments engaged in combat were disguised as “monks”,
as for instance João Maria and others, simulating a prophetic role, analogous
to that of the prophets in ancient Israel so as to gain ascendancy over the
impoverished dwellers of the land. Their leadership was skillfully masked by
pious motifs and threats of punishments inflicted upon renegades and opponents.
To cover up their own background as foreigners they claimed to be migrant
prophets chosen as representative figures of a belligerent religion practiced by
the faithful united by the bonds of brotherhood. Within that mystified historical
background of a segment of the local population it was a difficult task of the
government and the armed forces to demobilize the insurgents and secure
normalized conditions among the people.