The isolated river village of São Miguel had for years been shielded from a wave of religious conversions remaking the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. While many across the traditionally Catholic country were becoming evangelical Protestants, São Miguel had remained steadfast in its Catholic faith. Then one day, a pastor rumored to have mystical powers arrived and opened the community’s first evangelical church. Since then, the village has fractured in a bitter battle over its religious soul. Now the village must decide. For the first time in a year, an itinerant Catholic priest was journeying downriver on a small boat to celebrate the village's annual Mass. How many villagers would go? Which faith would São Miguel choose?
This story is part of our Deep Reads series, which showcases narrative journalism at The Washington Post. It was written and read by Terrence McCoy. Audio production and original composition by Bishop Sand.
The precarious power of Speaker Mike Johnson
India's secret assassination plot on U.S. soil
What to know about the new bird flu outbreak
The Campaign Moment: The GOP's Marjorie Taylor Greene problem
One woman’s failed abortions led another to motherhood
The mounting antiwar protests on college campuses
TikTok might get banned. For real this time.
Can cities fine unhoused people for sleeping outside?
Deep Reads: Riding the baddest bulls made him a legend. Then one broke his neck.
The Campaign Moment: Trump jurors and Biden on Israel
America’s toxic tap water problem
How a narco revolt pushed a peaceful nation to the brink
Will Israel “take the win”?
Day 1 of Trump's first criminal trial
The Campaign Moment: It’s 1864 in Arizona
How will O.J. Simpson be remembered?
The mounting allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Help! I haven’t filed my taxes yet!
How Trump narrowly escaped a cash crunch
Rethinking how to clean and style your home
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Campaign Moment
The Daily
Consider This from NPR
The NPR Politics Podcast
The 7