Zarur the Prophet

"Bad things were said against Christ and me," shouted Alziro Zarur on the air in Rio de Janeiro. For all the bad things a lot of people are saying about Zarur, the plump, balding, 43-year-old writer is running the fastest-growing new religious movement in Brazil. Its name is Boa Von-tade (Good Will), but it might as well be Bonanza. With the cruzeiros rolling in, the movement owns a Rio de Janeiro radio station, two magazines (total circ. 200,000), choice Rio real estate, and claim's more than a quarter million followers.

Born Apostle. Zarur was a successful radio scripter when, in 1949, he sat in his usual cafe and suddenly saw "the figure of a Catholic priest appear, then disappear." Thus Zarur was inspired by the "truth of spiritualism"--which, as a blend of Catholic symbols and African superstitions, is one of the most serious obstacles to the growth of Christianity in Brazil. He dreamed up a new agony radio program called Hour of Good Will. Letters poured in dripping with misfortunes and appeals for help, and as Zarur read them over the air, he was fascinated by the number of donations they brought in. "Then," says he, "I knew I was a born apostle."

Next year he founded a "spiritualist, nonpolitical Good Will Legion" with 24 aims, ranging from fighting illiteracy and promoting Esperanto to "rehabilitating delinquent girls."

With members' contributions, Prophet Zarur bought whole floors in a Rio office building, hired 120 clerks to handle mail, set up a soup kitchen and a spiritual counseling department, organized a series of "caravans" to tour jails with samba bands and radio singers. One of his most popular radio gimmicks: the "Prayer Chain," a long prayer by Zarur with a pause in the middle for the listener to insert his own petition to God. Says Zarur's secretary: "It cures almost anything."

St. Francis Reincarnate. Some of Brazil's religious leaders have begun to worry about the spread of Zarur's movement. Protested Jaime Cardinal de Barros Camara: "The Catholic Church cannot countenance a man who announces himself as the reincarnation of St. Francis of Assisi." Several Protestant churches warned their members against Zarur, and the Spiritualist Federation denied him recognition on the ground that he is causing confusion among the spirits.

Zarur is untroubled by such attacks, has just announced a momentous decision: he is about to get married. "I fascinate women," he explained before a meeting of his closest followers. "Every day I receive dozens of love letters that remain unanswered because of the vow of celibacy that I took. At the time, I needed to dedicate myself to building up our legion, but now the work is done. Jesus told me that celibacy is no longer necessary." Anxious disciples wanted to know whether the marriage (the bride's identity is still secret) would make any difference to the movement. Said Zarur: "Brothers, we will go on being God's workers. Our ideal may even reach inhabitants of other planets." Other planets have shown no interest, but on this one, the Legion is enrolling new members at the rate of 100 a day.

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