Abstract

RABINOVICH, Elaine Pedreira; COSTA, Lívia A. Fialho da  and  FRANCO, Anamélia Lins e Silva. Bahia evangelical families and the process of naming. Psicol. Soc. [online]. 2008, vol.20, n.3, pp. 417-424. ISSN 1807-0310.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-71822008000300012.

Twenty interviews were conducted with Evangelical families that live in the city of Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil. The interviewer asked who chose the names of the children and why the names were chosen. The study also investigated when and why adherence to Evangelical beliefs happened and what consequences it brought to personal and family life. Results showed that after conversion the chosen names were biblical, with the justification that such names would give a good "direction" to their children's lives and that the churches do not interfere directly on their decision. Adherence to an Evangelical Church, as it currently occurs in Brazil, seems to re-direct family life, as complete changes are reported to occur in their familial and personal lives after the conversion, and family starts to be defined as couple & children upon whom the biggest influence is the church.

Keywords : family; naming; Evangelical church.