Por uma teologia desútil e vagabunda: uma degustação teodecolonial da poesia de Manoel de Barros

Abstract

In a globalized world marked by savage capitalism, rationalism, utilitarianism, consumerism, colonialisms, and colonialities, this research, is being developed stemming from decolonial studies and the perspective of theological hermeneutics. It contributes to breaking with a reductionist interpretation that only considers Christianity and Christian theology as producers and legitimizers of coloniality and colonization. It reinforces the theological prophetic character by denouncing injustices, violence, subjugation, and reductionisms that tend to destroy divine Creation, while announcing new eschata, kairotic moments of destruction of ills and proclamation of new life. To this end, we aim to compose and savor a theo-decolonial reading of the poetry of Manoel de Barros (in memoriam), a true poetic fool, cholo, and vagabond. The methodology used to achieve this purpose is anthropophagy, a product of the Brazilian modernist movement, particularly through the lens of the poet Oswald de Andrade. This decolonial journey and experience dates back to many indigenous peoples in Brazil well before the arrival of European colonizers. Furthermore, some methodological approaches to theopoetics in the reception of Manoel de Barros's work will be considered, as well as others derived from decolonial studies. At the end of this journey, the childlike nature of the word will be presented; the Eucharistic communion with the earth, with the offal, the insignificant, and the useless; and the recognition of the insufficiency, partiality, and provisionality of theological discourse as expressions of theopoetic dialogue in Manoel de Barros, providing a decolonial expression of Christian theology. This will result in a decolonial expression based on a theological reading, which corroborates the perception and argument that it is possible to produce, from Christian theology, expressions consistent with decoloniality.