Scripture verses, crucifixes, portraits of the Bible and physical Bibles exist in legislative and judicial buildings. Legislators, Christian activists, lawmakers and others engage them. This installation featuring anthropological research from Canada and Brazil explores the origins, narratives, and actors involved in Christian language and imagery found in government buildings. Authors also consider materiality, secularism and morality as they relate both to Christian language and imagery in these spaces, and to the Christian nation more generally.

            Three authors offer case studies; Priscilla Cagnoni Garcia (University of Cambridge) addresses Bibles and uses of them at Brazilian state parliaments. Alana Sá Leitão (University of Toronto) focuses on debates around a crucifix in Brazil’s Supreme Court. Finally, I explore evangelical descriptions of Bible verses at Canada’s federal Parliament.