Caldeirao da Santa Cruz do Deserto (1926-1936): Utopia in Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

José Lourenço was a religious leader who, in the interior of the State of Ceará, Brazil, organized intentional communities, formed by peasants, who practiced cooperativism based on primitive Christianity along the lines of the Jesuit missions. The Community of Caldeirão da Santa Cruz do Deserto, in particular, was home to around 2 thousand people who produced their own food, clothes, tools, among other things, and shared everything according to each person's needs. The community was attacked and destroyed under the accusation of being communists and representing a danger to the Republic recently installed in Brazil.

Keywords

• intentional communities
• utopia
• caldeirão da santa cruz do deserto
• beato josé lourenço
• primitive christianity
• cariri