liberation theology
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LIBERATION THEOLOGY
“If there is no friendship with them [the poor] and no sharing of the life of the
poor, then there is no authentic commitment to liberation, because love exists only among equals.” ― Gustavo
Gutiérrez, A Theology of Liberation
LIBERATION THEOLOGY
A school of thought that explores the relationship between Christian theology and political activism
social justice
poverty
human rights
Methodology – to do theology (speak of God)
Focuses on Jesus as not only Saviour but also as Liberator.
As a bringer of justice
A theology, not the political movement
A coherent set of religious ideas
Promoting liberation from injustice and oppression
Basis – The Bible
Interpret Scripture through the plight of the poor
BRIEF HISTORY
Started in South America in the 1950s
When Marxism was making great gains among the poor because of its emphasis on the redistribution of wealth.
Bolstered in 1968 at the Second Latin American Bishops Conference, in Medellin, Colombia.
To study the Bible and to fight for social justice in Christian (Catholic) communities.
The church should derive its legitimacy and theology by growing out of the poor.
The church should be a movement for those who were denied their rights and plunged into such poverty.
Gustavo Gutierrez
The FATHER ofLiberation Theology
GUSTAVO GUTIERREZBorn: June 8, 1928 in
Lima, Peru.
Studied medicine and humanities in Peru
Went on to Leuven to study philosophy and psychology, and received his doctorate in Lyon.
In 1959 – ordained a priest in the Catholic Church.
EXPERIENCES
In his youth, he has osteomyelitis. This left him bed-ridden for most of his adolescence and forced him to use a wheel chair from the ages of 12 to 18.
Experienced and observed a world of injustice and inequality, a systematic oppression of the poor.
Gutierrez’s theology has led the way for other liberation theologians, and much to his credit advocacy for the poor and providing a voice for the voiceless has become commonplace.
TWO SPECIFIC BELIEFS
1) God loves all persons equally and gratuitously;
2) God loves the poor preferentially
Forms of Poverty
1) material poverty;
2) spiritual poverty; and
3) voluntary poverty
as protest
Material
Poverty
The poor person is someone who is treated as a non-person, someone who is considered insignificant from an economic, political and cultural point of view.
Spiritual
Poverty
“one is poor” or “poor in Spirit”. Radical openness to the will of God,
Radical faith in a providential God, and
Radical trust in a loving God.
Voluntary
Poverty
A conscious protest against injustice by choosing to live together with those who are materially poor.
Inspiration – life of Jesus
Three types of Liberation
1) political liberation;
2) psychological or anthropolitical
liberation; and
3) liberation from sin
Political liberation – the transformation of unjust social structures, elimination of immediate causes of poverty and injustice.
Liberation encompasses freeing the individual from “those things that limit the capacity to develop themselves freely and in dignity.”
Freedom from sin and selfishness
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION
1) social and
political level;
2) human level; and
3) salvific level
SOCIAL & POLITICAL LEVEL
Liberation is an expression of aspirations of the oppressed classes and peoples.
HUMAN LEVEL
Liberation is conceived as a historical process in which people develop consciously their own destiny through the social changes.
SALVIFIC LEVEL
Liberation from sin
Brings man back into communion with God and fellow men, which is the radical, total liberation.
THE THEOLOGY
OF LIBERATION
Theology is not just to be learned, it is to be done.
“praxis“ – the starting point for theology.
Praxis – from the Greek word prasso means "to work“.
Praxis must always be the first stage in the theological process.
SIN
SIN
The Use of Violence
Violence is not considered sinful if it is used for resisting oppression.
Example: KILLING
SALVATION
Bringing about the kingdom of God
A new social order where there will be equality for all.
Not to deny eternal life, but it is to emphasize that the eternal and the temporal "intersect"
BASIS: ROMANS 10:9“IF YOU DECLARE WITH YOUR
MOUTH, “JESUS IS LORD,” & BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED.”
SALVATIONTEMPORAL ETERNAL
MAN BELIEVE SAVED
Common Denominator: Believe
Traditional formulation
history and eternity are two parallel (nonintersecting) realms
SALVATION
HISTORY ETERNITY
past Present, future,…
NONE
CHURCH
The mission of the church seems to be more important than its nature.
No longer “quantitative”
Rather, "at all times to protest against injustice, to challenge what is inhuman, to side with the poor and the oppressed."
CHURCH
Liberationists claim the orthodox view of God
– a static being
– distant and remote from human history.
GOD
Liberation Theologians
God is not impassive
He is dynamically involved in behalf of the poor and downtrodden.
Stands against oppression and exploitation
Those who follow Him must do likewise.
Failure of Marxist-socialist regimes Failure of capitalism
Capitalism favours the privileged
Socialism, in practice, repression and state-control
LIBERATION THEOLOGYS
OC
IALIS
M
Three advantages
1. People's basic needs will be met;
2. Ordinary people will be active
in building a new society; and
3. What is created will be a new Latin America, not a copy of old socialist ideals.
LIBERATION THEOLOGYS
OC
IALIS
M
THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LIBERATION
THEOLOGY AND SOCIALISM ARE FAR MORE
APPARENT IN THEORY THAN IN PRACTICE.
INDEED, GUTIERREZ SAYS THAT
"TO KNOW GOD IS TO DO JUSTICE."
00
Thank You
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