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

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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

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IALIS

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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."

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Thank You