Editing Edir Macedo

{{short description|Brazilian evangelical pastor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|name         = Edir Macedo
|image        = Edir Macedo2007.jpg
|image_size   = 
|caption      = Edir Macedo in 2007
|birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1945|02|18}}
|birth_place  = [[Rio das Flores]], [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
|occupation   = Businessman,<ref name=businessman>{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Billionaire Bishop Edir Macedo Is Now A Banker, Too |last=Antunes |first=Anderson |newspaper=Forbes |date=22 July 2013 |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2013/07/22/brazilian-billionaire-bishop-edir-macedo-is-now-a-banker-too/}}</ref>
 preacher, theologian, and author
|website      =https://www.universal.org/en/bispo-macedo/

}}
'''Edir Macedo''' (born February 18, 1945) is a Brazilian [[evangelical]] bishop, writer, billionaire businessman,<ref name=forbes/><ref name="Forbes profile">{{cite web |title=2015 Billionaires NET WORTH: #1638 Edir Macedo & family|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/edir-macedo/ |website=Forbes |date=2 March 2015|quote=a Brazilian media mogul}}</ref> and the founder of the [[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]] (UCKG).<ref name=istoe>{{cite web|url=http://www.bispomacedo.com.br/2009/10/27/o-ateu-que-nao-vive-sem-deus/|title=O ateu que não vive sem Deus|work=The Blog of Edir Macedo |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.istoe.com.br/reportagens/256085_O+CEU+E+O+INFERNO+NAO+SAO+FOLCLORE+|title=O céu e o inferno não são folclore|work=istoe.com.br|date=November 23, 2012|access-date=29 January 2013|archive-date=December 26, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141226222240/http://www.istoe.com.br/reportagens/256085_O+CEU+E+O+INFERNO+NAO+SAO+FOLCLORE+|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the owner and chairman of the third-largest television network in Brazil, [[Record (television network)|Record]], along with [[Grupo Record]] since 1989, which he founded after he bought the network.

== Early life ==
Edir Macedo was born on February 18, 1945, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was the fourth child of Henrique Bezerra and Eugenia de Macedo Bezerra, known as Dona Geninha.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.postposmo.com/en/edir-macedo/ | title=Edir Macedo: Biography, ministry, controversy and more. ▷➡️ Postposmo | work=Postposmo | date=March 11, 2021 | last1=Palabra | first1=Creciendo en la }}</ref>

According to Macedo’s website, he holds degrees in theology from the Evangelical School of Theology “United Seminar” and the Faculty of Theological Education in the State of São Paulo (Fatebom). The website also states that he received a doctorate in theology and Christian philosophy, an honorary degree in divinity, and a master’s degree in theological science through the Federación Evangélica Española de Entidades Religiosas (F.E.E.D.E.R) in Madrid, Spain.<ref name=autobio>{{cite web|url=http://www.bispomacedo.com.br/en/biography/|title=Biography – Bishop Macedo|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714122949/http://www.bispomacedo.com.br/en/biography/|archive-date=14 July 2014|website=bispomacedo.com.br|language=en}}</ref>

The reference to FEEDER may be an error. In the biography it appears with a question mark, and an organization with a similar name exists: the Federación de Entidades Religiosas Evangélicas de España (FEREDE). FEEDER appears to be referenced only in connection with Macedo. In 2021, FEREDE refused membership to the Comunidad Cristiana del Espíritu Santo, also known as Familia Unida or the Christian Help Centre, which is associated with the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.<ref>{{Cite news |title=La Federación de Entidades Evangélicas rechaza la integración de la Comunidad Cristiana del Espíritu Santo |trans-title=The ''Federación de Entidades Evangélicas'' refuses integration of the ''Comunidad Cristiana del Espíritu Santo'' (connected with the UCKG) |website=Europa Press |date=24 March 2021 |url= https://www.europapress.es/sociedad/noticia-federacion-entidades-evangelicas-rechaza-integracion-comunidad-cristiana-espiritu-santo-20210324183647.html |language=es}}</ref>

==Career==
Macedo was raised [[Catholic]], but by 1965 converted to [[Pentecostalism]], after an invitation from his sister to [[Igreja Cristã de Nova Vida]].<ref>CORTEN André, DOZON Jean-Pierre, ORO Ari Pedro, ''Les nouveaux conquérants de la foi-L'Eglise universelle du royaume de Dieu (Brésil)'', KARTHALA Editions, France, 2003, p. 46</ref><ref name=UCKG>{{Cite book|last1=Leonard|first1=Jim|url=http://www.comingstobrazil.com/blog/UNIVERSAL%20CHURCH%20OF%20THE%20KINGDOM%20OF%20GOD.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104041/http://www.comingstobrazil.com/blog/UNIVERSAL%20CHURCH%20OF%20THE%20KINGDOM%20OF%20GOD.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|title=Universal Church of the Kingdom of God|publisher=[[Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary|Faith Baptist Theological Seminary]]|location=[[Ankeny, Iowa]]|date=May 8, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1975, Macedo founded a Pentecostal church with [[Romildo Ribeiro Soares]], Cruzada do Caminho Eterno. After an argument, the two separated.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

In 1977, Macedo founded with others the [[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]] in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.<ref>Patrice de Plunkett, ''Les évangéliques à la conquête du monde'', Éditions Perrin, France, 2009, p. 110</ref>

In 1989 he bought the [[free-to-air]] commercial television network Record and in the same year he founded Grupo Record. In 2007 he founded the 24-hour free-to-air news channel Record News.

Macedo’s rapidly expanding religious movement and his promotion of prosperity theology have been controversial. His sermons often focus on the idea that followers may be oppressed by unclean spirits, which he teaches can manifest in individuals and be expelled in the name of Jesus in order to overcome personal problems.<ref name="Pastor misusing funds">{{cite news|last1=Preston|first1=Julia|title=Brazil's Pastor of Prosperity Accused of Misusing Funds|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 3, 1991}}</ref>

His views on other religions, particularly Catholicism, have also been a source of controversy. In 1992, Macedo spent eleven days in jail on accusations of charlatanism. According to his autobiography ''Nothing to Lose'', several protests took place during this time, and supporters camped outside the police station where he was being held.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uckg.org/uk/?p=49898|title=uk – UCKG HelpCentre|website=uckg.org|access-date=November 5, 2018}}</ref>

Macedo’s prosperity theology has also been cited by church leaders in discussions of his lifestyle. One reported statement attributed to him is: “If I preach prosperity and my clothes are ragged, who will follow me?”<ref name="Pastor misusing funds" />

From March 2013 to 2015, Macedo was on the [[Forbes billionaires list]] with a reported US$1.1&nbsp;billion, and $1.24&nbsp;b for Macedo and family, making him by far the richest pastor in Brazil and the world.<ref name=forbes>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2013/01/17/the-richest-pastors-in-brazil/|title=The Richest Pastors in Brazil|first=Anderson|last=Antunes|website=Forbes|date=17 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="Forbes profile"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2015/03/02/brazils-richest-people-facts-and-figures/ |title=Brazil's Richest People: Facts and Figures |newspaper=Forbes |date=March 2, 2015 |author=Anderson Antunes |access-date= August 22, 2017}}</ref> He was not on the list for 2016<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2016/07/17/who-wants-to-be-a-brazilian-billionaire/ |title=Who Wants To Be A Brazilian Billionaire? |newspaper=Forbes |date=July 17, 2016 |author=Kenneth Rapoza |access-date= August 22, 2017}}</ref> or later years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes Billionaires 2022: The Richest People In The World |website=Forbes |date= |access-date=29 July 2022 |url= https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/}} List updated annually.</ref>

The UCKG built a [[Temple of Solomon (São Paulo)|US$300&nbsp;million replica]] in São Paulo of [[Solomon's Temple]] in [[History of Jerusalem#Israelite period|Jerusalem]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ariquemesonline.com.br/noticia.asp?cod=292351&codDep=30 |title=Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus inaugura empreendimento faraônico de R$685 milhões|language=pt|trans-title=Universal Church of the Kingdom of God inaugurates R$685&nbsp;million Pharaonic enterprise|website=Ariquemes Online |date=August 1, 2014 |access-date= August 19, 2019}}</ref> with an $8&nbsp;million contract to import stones from Jerusalem like those used to build the 3,000-year-old original.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/International/First-Temple-replica-to-be-built-in-Sao-Paulo |title=First Temple replica to be built in Sao Paulo |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=July 27, 2010  |author=GIL STERN STERN SHEFLER |access-date= August 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Macedo is married to Ester Bezerra, and has two daughters, Cristiane and Viviane, and an adopted son, Moises.<ref name=autobio/>

==Opinions and controversies==

===Opposition to interracial marriage===

Macedo was criticized for writing an article opposing [[interracial marriage]]. He tried to justify his views claiming that [[multiracial]] children should be avoided because they will suffer discrimination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.odia.com.br/_conteudo/noticia/brasil/2014-08-18/bispo-macedo-nao-recomenda-casamento-entre-pessoas-de-racas-diferentes.html|title=Bispo Macedo não recomenda casamento entre pessoas de 'raças diferentes'|first=O.|last=Dia|date=August 18, 2014|website=O Dia – _legado_Brasil|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://noticias.gospelmais.com.br/bispo-macedo-homens-casar-mulheres-raca-diferente-39342.html|title=Macedo: homens não devem casar com mulheres de raças diferentes|date=July 16, 2012|website=Notícias Gospel|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref> This led to several accusations of racism and [[misogyny]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/reinaldo/edir-macedo-racismo-e-misoginia-cade-os-ministros-da-igualdade-racial-e-das-mulheres/|title=Edir Macedo, racismo e misoginia: cadê os ministros da Igualdade Racial e das Mulheres? – Reinaldo Azevedo|website=VEJA.com|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>

===Religious intolerance===

Macedo has been criticised, especially after the [[Chute na santa incident|'kicking of the saint' incident]] in which UCKG bishop Sérgio Von Helder, who later left the Church, kicked a Catholic icon in a TV program, for which he was later imprisoned for two years.<ref name="Jack">{{Cite news|title=Kicking of icon outrages Brazil Catholics|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|last=Epstein|first=Jack|date=24 November 1995}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{Cite news |title=Church makes airwaves |author=<!--not stated--> |website=BBC News |date=3 August 2000 |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/864623.stm}}</ref> He also authored a book called ''Orixás, Caboclos and Guias'' in which he attacks [[Afro-Brazilian religion]], accusing it of [[Satanism]] and "the root of all of Brazil's troubles". The book was first prohibited as [[hate speech]], but after legal efforts from Macedo's church it was allowed for the sake of [[free speech]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://expresso-noticia.jusbrasil.com.br/noticias/136368/trf-libera-circulacao-do-livro-de-edir-macedo|title=TRF libera circulação do livro de Edir Macedo|website=Jusbrasil|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>

===Status of women===

Edir Macedo stated in a 2019 sermon that daughters should not be allowed to seek out higher education, because if they do they will be "smarter than their husbands", and that he personally would not allow his daughters to go to college because he believes that an educated woman cannot have a happy marriage: "When they [my daughters] went out, I said they would just go to high school and they wouldn't go to college. My wife supported me, but the relatives found it absurd. Why don't you go to college? Because if you graduate from a particular profession, you will serve yourself, you will work for yourself. But I don’t want that, you came to serve God. Because if (…) she was a doctor and had a high degree of knowledge and found a boy who had a low degree of knowledge, he would not be the head, she would be the head. And if it were the head, it would not serve God's will. I want my daughters to marry a male. A man who has to be head. They have to be head. Because if they are not head their marriage is doomed to failure."<ref>Ingrid Soares, "Bispo Edir Macedo diz que mulher não pode ter mais estudo que o marido", Correio Braziliense, September 24, 2019 [https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/app/noticia/brasil/2019/09/24/interna-brasil,789307/bispo-edir-macedo-diz-que-mulher-nao-pode-ter-mais-estudo-que-o-marido.shtml], translated to English on the Patheos website [https://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2019/10/bishop-daughters-should-be-uneducated-so-theyre-not-smarter-than-husbands/]</ref>

===Federal Justice indictment===

Edir Macedo was indicted by the Federal Justice for import of equipment and use of public documents and legal proceedings, but not convicted. Ten years later he was prosecuted again by the prosecutors of the State of São Paulo. On October 19, 2010 the São Paulo Justice Court (TJ-SP) annulled all accusations made by the São Paulo Public Ministry against the UCKG and its principal representatives by a majority vote. The judges deemed that the São Paulo prosecutors did not have jurisdiction to investigate the case, as the accusations were of a type that fell into the federal jurisdiction.<ref>[http://www.universopolitico.com/exibir.php?noticia=7805 Universo Politico: Accusations against UCKG recognised as illegal, 24 October 2010] {{in lang|pt}}</ref>

==Companies==
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2013}}
Macedo also leads [[Record (television network)|Record]]<ref name=istoe/> (the second biggest television network in Brazil), [[Rede Família|RFTV]], [[Record News]], [[Line Records]], 64 radio stations of [[Rede Aleluia]] and [[Universal Produções]].

==Books==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2021}}
Ten million copies of evangelical books by Macedo have been sold, and over 34 titles published. Titles include ''Orixás, Caboclos and Guias'' and ''In the Footsteps of Jesus'', both of which sold more than three million copies in Brazil. He has also sold his trilogy called ''Nada a perder'' (''Nothing to lose''), with millions of copies sold worldwide. He has written several religious books including the polemical best-seller ''Orixás, Caboclos e Guias, Deuses ou Demônios''.

==Movies==
His broadcasting company Record financed the 2018 movie ''Nada a perder'' (''Nothing to Lose'') about Macedo's life, which is based on his autobiography. Reviews were negative, called it a glorification. Tickets were given out free of charge at the churches to make it a box office success,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-06-06|title='It is strange': Brazilian church blockbuster plays to empty cinemas|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/15/nothing-to-lose-nada-a-perder-brazil-sold-out-empty-cinemas-universal-church|date=16 May 2018|website=the Guardian}}</ref> a practice already known from a previous movie by Record, ''[[The Ten Commandments: The Movie]]''.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/15/nothing-to-lose-nada-a-perder-brazil-sold-out-empty-cinemas-universal-church 'It is strange': Brazilian church blockbuster plays to empty cinemas], Dom Phillips, ''[[The Guardian]]'', May 16, 2018</ref> A film version of Macedo's autobiography, named ''[[:pt:Nada a Perder (filme)|Nada a Perder]]'' (Nothing to Lose) like the book, was released in 2018, with massive attendances claimed and massive exaggeration reported.<ref>[https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/ilustrada/2018/05/filme-sobre-edir-macedo-se-torna-a-maior-bilheteria-do-cinema-brasileiro.shtml Filme sobre Edir Macedo se torna a maior bilheteria do cinema brasileiro], Tiago Dias, [[Folha de S.Paulo]], May 7, 2018 (Portuguese)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nothing to Lose (Nada a Perder) review |last=Turner |first=Alix |website=Ready Steady Cut |date=20 July 2018 |url= https://readysteadycut.com/2018/07/20/nada-a-perder-nothing-to-lose/}}</ref> A sequel was released in August 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Nada a perder 2': crítica |trans-title='Nada a perder 2': review |last=Schenker |first=Daniel |newspaper=O Globo |date=15 August 2019 |url= https://oglobo.globo.com/rioshow/nada-perder-2-critica-23880310 |language=pt}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Evangelical Christianity|}}
*[[:pt:O Bispo - A História Revelada de Edir Macedo|''The Bishop – revealed history of Edir Macedo'']]: biography {{in lang|pt}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050907234745/http://www.bispomacedo.com.br/ Bispo Macedo] – Edir Macedo's website {{in lang|pt}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macedo, Edir}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Brazilian television evangelists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Brazilian Pentecostal pastors]]
[[Category:Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]]
[[Category:Prosperity theologians]]
[[Category:Brazilian mass media owners]]
[[Category:Brazilian billionaires]]
[[Category:Converts to Pentecostal denominations]]
[[Category:Critics of the Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Finance fraud in Pentecostalism]]
[[Category:Founders of new religious movements]]
[[Category:Christian Zionists]]