Edir Macedo

Edir Macedo
Edir Macedo in 2007, during grand opening ceremony of Record News.
Born	February 18, 1945 (1945-02-18) Rio das Flores, RJ, Brazil
Occupation	Preacher and theologian

Edir Macedo Bezerra (born February 18, 1945) is a Brazilian religious leader. Macedo was raised Catholic, but by 1970 converted to a Pentecostal. He founded with others the "Neo-Pentecostal" Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil in 1977.

His rapidly growing religious movement has been a source of controversy, and his teaching of the prosperity theology. His views about other faiths, particularly Catholicism, are also controversial. In 1992, he spent eleven days in jail on accusations of charlatanism. There were several protests, with his religious followers camping in front of the place he was held (a police precinct)^{[citation needed]}.

Criticism

Macedo has earned criticism, especially after the 'kicking of the saint' incident (in which Macedo's ex-bishop Sérgio Von Helde kicked a Catholic icon in a TV program) and his teachings about tithing and donations, which many say exploit the poor.

Edir Macedo was indicted by the Federal Justice for fraudulent import of equipment and use of false public documents and legal proceedings. He was later declared innocent in a controversial process.^{[citation needed]}

Other

He also leads Rede Record (the second biggest television network in Brazil), Rede Família, Record News, Line Records, 64 radio stations of Rede Aleluia and Universal Produções. He has authored several religious books including the polemical best-seller Orixás, Caboclos e Guias, Deuses ou Demônios. As listed in his official biography, Macedo holds a doctor's degree in Theology and in Christian Philosophy, and an Honorary degree in Divinity from the Faculdade de Educação Teológica do Estado de São Paulo. However, doctoral degrees in this institution are not accredited or recognized by Brazilian government authorities.

One of the founders of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Bishop Edir Macedo, 67 years old, was born in Rio de Janeiro. In 1963, he began a career as a civil servant. He started by working with the state-run lottery of Rio de Janeiro, Loterj, and also worked at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE, as a researcher in the economic census of 1970. He had completed 16 years of civil service when he left his career to become an evangelist.

Married to Ester Bezerra for 38 years, he has two daughters with her: Cristiane, Viviane and an adopted son, Moises. Edir Macedo insists on pointing out the unconditional support he receives from his wife. He states that women fulfill an important role in the family. She teaches her children in the ways of the faith, takes care of her husband and of the house. All in all, she lives a hectic day-to-day life. But the principal characteristic of a woman of God is that she does all this under the direction of the Lord.

The Bishop has an extensive academic background. He received degrees in Theology at the Evangelical School of Theology "United Seminar” and the Faculty of Theological Education in the state of São Paulo (Fatebom). He received a doctorate in Theology, Christian Philosophy and an honorary degree in Divinity, in addition to a Masters in Theological Science received through the Federación Evangélica Española de Entidades Religiosas ? also known as “F.E.E.D.E.R" ? in Madrid, Spain.

As an evangelical writer, Edir Macedo has sold more than 10 million books, and has over 34 titles published. His books include "Orixás, Caboclos and Guias" and "In the Footsteps of Jesus", both of which have sold more than three million copies in Brazil.

See also

• Prosperity Gospel
• Televangelism

External links

• UCKG Help Center - Official website
• IURD - Official website in Brazil (Portuguese)
• Bispo Macedo - Edir Macedo's official website (Portuguese)
• Arca Universal, a portal in God's service (Portuguese)
• Edir Macedo's photography