Abstract: Based on an ethnographic research carried out in São Paulo's Crackland (2011-2015), this article addresses dimensions of religious conversion linked to the world of crime and drugs. Through the journey of a former crack user who becomes a Baptist missionary, the article draws attention to how the fear of death and imprisonment, imposed by criminal and repressive policies are important vectors for understanding the choices and constraints that guide the process of religious conversion. From my interlocutors’ point of view, these constant threats added to the professionalization and opportunities generated by the missionary career point to conversion as an alternative to the grave and the jail, being a relevant strategy to “survive in adversity”.
Key words:
crack cocaine; Sao Paulo; religious conversion; Baptists.