SYMBOLISM OF GEODIVERSITY IN AFRO-BRAZILIAN RELIGIONS

If, throughout evolutionary history, an analogy is made between humans and nature using elements of geodiversity, symbolic processes will emerge for human beings. They construct a sacralized nature revealed in their worship, practices, and beliefs, where nature becomes a symbolic element imbued with meaning. These elements of geodiversity are found in various religious traditions, with notable examples being Indigenous/Shamanic practices, Umbanda, Candomblé, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, among others. As a result, this article focuses on African rituals which represent their original matrix and a tradition primarily marked by orality (in contrast to the main Western monotheistic religions that have sacred texts) and direct religious learning through daily practice in the “terreiro” (the place of worship). The analysis of geodiversity and its use in these religious manifestations leads to the reflection that it is still necessary to recognize and disseminate geodiversity and its various uses more extensively, as it assists us in appreciating understanding and interpreting religions from a different perspective, providing more consistency and authenticity. Keywords: Afro-Brazilian Religions; Geodiversity; Simbolism.