Abstract

The violent overthrow of the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende on September 11th, 1973 represented the worst political breakdown in the history of Chile. Its repercussions touched all aspects of life in the country. Pentecostal reactions to the coup d’etat and the ensuing violent repression have been viewed as overwhelmingly supportive of the regime. In official and public meetings with military authorities, many religious leaders offered recognition and legitimation. At the same time, a small but vocal minority, who felt misrepresented by the political agenda of conservative leaders developed clear stances and discourses in opposition to the repressive character of the dictatorship. This paper investigates the development of these voices and their reactions to cases of political torture through the lens of one such group – la Misión Iglesia Pentecostal (Pentecostal Mission Church – MIP ). For many members, the interpretation of their faith and what it meant to be truly faithful could not be understood without reference to violent context in which they were embedded. This paper situates the development of new understandings of religion, torture, and interruptions in lived religious experience within la vida cotidiana (everyday life) during the dictatorship.