Cognitive authorities versus ecclesiastical and spiritual authorities: Brazilian evangelical communities and information

Abstract

This text aims to establish a dialogue about the concept of cognitive authority from the Brazilian evangelical community and its ecclesiastical and spiritual authorities to understand the phenomenon of disinformation in this segment. For this reflection, it presents data on the exponential growth of this group in recent decades, the treatment used during this period by the traditional media and, in contrast, a survey by the Institute of Religious Studies with topics listed by women about their relationship with the church. Then, it describes the concepts used in evangelical communities for ecclesiastical authorities, which can be attributed through administrative positions, spiritual authority, which is established through the recognition of members without formalized positions and, in digital environments, the rise of authorities spiritual influencers and youtubers, who hold leadership within and outside the churches with communities. From this context, the use of the concept of cognitive authority and the new categories, genuine cognitive authorities and pseudo cognitive authorities, and how these terms make sense in the relations between religious authorities and the evangelical community are pointed out. Finally, the article points out the first observations on the relevance of these authorities, seen by members as reliable sources of information and the need to create a research agenda deepening studies in information science and information ethics on disinformation in evangelical communities Brazilian