Apocalypse in the Tropics: Democracy at a Crossroads

This article explores Petra Costa’s new documentary, Apocalypse in the Tropics, which looks at how evangelical Christianity shaped Brazilian politics. With clear facts and simple language, we explain each part of the story.

The Rise of Evangelical Power

In just 40 years, Brazil saw a steep rise in evangelical Christians—from about 5% to nearly 30% of the population. This growth is one of the fastest religious shifts in history.

Key points:

• Evangelicals now form about 30% of Brazilians. 
• Their influence grew as Catholic and liberation theology declined.
• They moved from grassroots to elite circles, linked to agribusiness.

Pastor Silas Malafaia: A Kingmaker

Pastor Silas Malafaia became a key figure in this shift:

• He leads a large evangelical church and a major TV ministry. 
• His followers reached more than 4 million on social media by 2024. 
• He openly supported Bolsonaro and framed him as God’s choice. 

Bolsonaro’s Rise and Institutional Weakening

Jair Bolsonaro won the 2018 election with strong evangelical support:

Year	Evangelical Support	Bolsonaro’s Result
2018	69%	He won the presidency.
2022	63–70%	He lost but had strong minority support

 

During his presidency, Bolsonaro:

• Undermined courts and democratic checks
• Offered tax breaks and palace access to evangelical leaders 
• Was accused of mishandling COVID‑19 

The January 8, 2023 Coup Attempt

After losing the 2022 election, Bolsonaro refused to concede. His supporters stormed government buildings on January 8, 2023. This event mirrored the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.

Many rioters held apocalyptic religious beliefs — they wanted chaos to bring Christ’s return. 

Lula’s Return

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to power in 2022 after his conviction was annulled. He had supported some evangelical causes before, but:

• He backed anti-homophobia laws, which turned evangelicals away.
• He believes ignoring religion leaves a vacuum for the far right.

But evangelicals still make up 20% of Brazil’s Congress and oppose Lula strongly.

U.S. Links and Global Parallels

The film draws connections between Bolsonaro and Trump:

• Both used evangelical support and anti‑elite rhetoric. 
• Trump recently defended Bolsonaro and threatened tariffs. 

Lula called Trump’s tariff threat “not responsible.” 

Apocalyptic Theology and Threats to Democracy

The film highlights how extreme religious beliefs justify democracy’s breakdown:

• Some evangelicals see chaos as divine purpose.
• Dominion theology pushes for religious rule over secular institutions. 
• This undermines democracy, courts, and separation of church and state. 

A Call to Action

Costa offers a hopeful message:

• Democracy needs tools to handle new threats: tech, money, and religion.
• We must protect the rule of law and religious freedom.
• Active citizens can push for real solutions, not just crisis control.

Why the Film Matters

Apocalypse in the Tropics warns that democracy can be undone from within by mixing religion and power. It is a call to:

• Defend democratic institutions
• Keep religion separate from politics
• Promote inclusive, lawful governance

This documentary is streaming on Netflix from July 14, 2025, after festival premieres. It is a timely reminder that democracy depends on us all.