A territorialização da igreja católica no Tocantins: a diocese de Cristalândia – TO

Abstract

One of the themes addressed by Geography is religion, full of meanings, and which brings within itself a spatial dimension that interests Geography. There is a need to understand the power of religion modifying the landscape, interfering with human actions and, therefore, with the spatial organization of societies. It isdifficult to understand part of the history of the state of Tocantins, formerly north of Goiás, its spatial organization and the characteristics of its population, withoutanalyzing the characteristics and influence of the Catholic Church. This research aims to understand the process of territorialization of the Catholic Church in the north of Goiás, the current state of Tocantins, through the creation of their dioceses and their interference in the local socio-political and cultural context. Therefore, it is intended to make a survey of historical sources and an analysis of regional characteristics influenced by the religious reality, characterizing a given sacred territory, in which access is controlled and within them the authority is of a religious professional. Its existence favors the exercise of the devotee's faith and it embodies the symbolic relationship between culture and space, transforming itself into a "geosymbol". Religion is only maintained if its territorialityis preserved and, in this sense, it can be added that it is through the existence ofa religion that a territory is created and it is through the territory that collective or individual religious experiences are strengthened.