Santo Daime in Ireland: A ‘Work’ in Process

Santo Daime, a new religious movement originating in Brazil, has expanded globally and emerged in Ireland during the 21st century. In 2007, a leader of an Irish Santo Daime group was charged with unlawful possession of DMT, contained in the sacramental drink ayahuasca, under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1977; the case is under appeal on grounds of religious freedom under the Irish Constitution. The paper argues that experiences of Santo Daime in Ireland reflect conflicting responses to new religious spaces in a post-colonial nation with a history of Catholic cultural and social hegemony.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The title for this paper draws on Santo Daime ritual activity being referred to as a „Work‟ (Trabalho in Portuguese). Santo Daime is a new religious movement that continues to expand globally (Dawson 2013). In the 21 st century it emerged in Ireland within a transforming and increasingly varied religious landscape. In 2007 a leader of a Santo Daime group in Ireland was charged with unlawful possession of DMT which is contained within „Daime‟, or ayahuasca, the substance used in the religion‟s central sacrament, under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1977. This case is under appeal on grounds of the right to religious freedom under the Irish Constitution. I present here questions and discussion arising from interfaces between a new religious activity and the law, set against an increasingly „post-catholic‟ Republic. I argue that experiences of Santo Daime in Ireland reflect a number of conflicting responses to new religious spaces in a post-colonial nation with a history of Catholic cultural and social hegemony.