November 19, 2005

• Liberation theology

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  Liberation theology is an important and controversial school in the theology of the Roman Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council. It is often cited as a form of Christian socialism, and it has had particularly widespread influence in Latin America and among the Jesuits, although its influence has diminished since important parts of its teaching were rejected by the Vatican.

  The current pope, Benedict XVI, has also been long known as an opponent of liberation theology, and indeed in his position (1981-2005) as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was a key enforcer of the opposition of the previous pope, Pope John Paul II, to certain socialist tendencies in liberation theology.

  Contents [hide] 1 Overview 2 Liberation theologians 3 Passages from the Bible 4 See also: 5 Bibliography 6 External links 6.1 Vatican

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  Overview

  In essence, liberation theology explores the relationship between
  Christian theology (usually Roman Catholic) and political activism,
  particularly in areas of social justice and human rights.
  The main methodological innovation of liberation theology is to do
  theology, i.e., speak of God, from the viewpoint of the economically
  poor and oppressed of the human community. According to Jon Sobrino,
  S.J., the poor are a privileged channel of God's grace. According to
  Phillip Berryman (see the bibliography), liberation theology is "an
  interpretation of Christian faith through the poor's suffering, their struggle and hope, and a critique of society and the Catholic faith and Christianity through the eyes of the poor."

  Liberation theology focuses on Jesus as a liberator. Emphasis is placed on those parts of the Bible
  where Jesus' mission is described in terms of liberation, and as a
  bringer of justice. This is interpreted as a call to arms to carry out
  this mission of justice -- literally by some. A number of liberation
  theologians add Marxist concepts such as the doctrine of perpetual class struggle.

  According to Gustavo Guti廨rez true iberation?has three main dimensions:

  • First, it involves political and social liberation, the elimination of the immediate causes of poverty and injustice.
  • Second, liberation involves the emancipation of the poor, the
    marginalised, the downtrodden and the oppressed from all hose things
    that limit their capacity to develop themselves freely and in dignity?
  • Third, Liberation Theology involves liberation from selfishness and
    sin, a re-establishment of a relationship with God and with other
    people.

  Liberation theologians usually do not teach in universities and
  seminaries. They tend to have much contact with the poor, and interpret
  scripture partly based on their experiences in this context -- what
  they label praxis.

  Due to the controversial nature of these topics, the place of
  liberation theology within the Church and the extent to which Church
  officials should uphold it has been a matter of corresponding
  controversy. Although liberation theology is partially compatible with Catholic social teaching
  as expressed in official statements, it has been rejected by the
  Vatican based on the Marxist concepts that tend towards materialism;
  this aspect of liberation theology is the most objectionable to
  orthodox Catholic critics who regard it as "incitement to hate and
  violence (and) the exaltation of class struggle" [1]. However the former Cardinal Ratzinger,
  now Pope Benedict XVI, has praised that aspect of the movement which
  rejects violence and instead "stresses the responsibility which
  Christians necessarily bear for the poor and oppressed" [2].

  Pope John Paul II
  largely put an end to official support for liberation theology among
  the Catholic Church's hierarchy by his statement in January 1979, on a
  visit to Mexico, that "this conception of Christ as a political figure,
  a revolutionary, as the subversive of Nazareth, does not tally with the
  Church's teachings." However, it retains a high degree of support,
  especially among the laity and individual priests. And indeed John Paul
  himself acknowledged that Marxism contained within it a "kernel of
  truth" about the exploitative nature of capitalism.

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  Liberation theologians

  • Jean-Bertrand Aristide
  • Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo
  • Samuel Ruiz
  • Leonardo Boff
  • Jose Miguez Bonino
  • H幨der C滵ara
  • Ernesto Cardenal
  • Gustavo Guti廨rez
  • Paul Gauthier
  • Erwin Kr酳tler
  • 茳car Romero
  • Juan Luis Segundo
  • Jon Sobrino
  • Camilo Torres Restrepo
  • Ignacio Ellacur燰
  • Marcella Althaus-Reid
  • Paulo Evaristo Arns

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  Passages from the Bible

  • He has scattered the proud
    in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from
    their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. (Luke 1:51-53)

  • And if your brother becomes poor,
    and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall maintain him; as a
    stranger and a sojourner he shall live with you. Take no interest from
    him or increase, but fear your God; that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. (Leviticus 25:35-38)

  • The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of
    them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in
    common. With power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the
    Lord Jesus, and great respect was paid to them all; nor was there
    anyone needy among them, for all who owned property or houses sold them
    and lay them at the feet of the apostles to be distributed to everyone
    according to his need. (Acts 4:32-35; see also 2:42-47)

  • The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has
    anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to
    bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
    release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and
    the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:1-2)

  • Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery
    that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten
    your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will
    testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded
    wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen
    who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the
    harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived
    on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in
    the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who
    were not opposing you.. (James 5:1-6)

  • Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
    authorities, against the powers, against the rulers of darkness in this
    world. -Ephesians 6:12

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  See also:

  • Dalit theology
  • Black theology
  • Feminist theology
  • Minjung theology
  • Progressive Christianity
  • Christian anarchism

  [edit]

  Bibliography

  • Berryman, Phillip, Liberation Theology (1987)
  • Sigmund, P.E., Liberation Theology at the Crossroads (1990).
  • Hillar, Marian, "Liberation Theology: Religious Response to Social Problems. A Survey", published in Humanism and Social Issues. Anthology of Essays. M. Hillar and H.R. Leuchtag, eds., American Humanist Association, Houston, 1993, pp. 35-52. [3]
  • Guti廨rez, Gustavo, A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics and Salvation, Orbis Books, 1988

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  External links

  • A short history of Liberation theology
  • Excerpts on and Chronology of liberation theology (alt link [4])
  • "Christian Revolution in Latin America: The Changing Face of Liberation Theology", Ron Rhodes
  • BBC Religion & Ethics theological obituary of Pope John Paul II: his views on liberation theology
  • Centre for Liberation Theologies, Faculty of Theology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
  • Edward A. Lynch, "The Retreat of Liberation Theology", 1994
  • Why the Vatican Hates Liberation Theology

  [edit]

  Vatican

  • Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, August 6, 1984, Instruction on Certain Aspects of "Theology of Liberation"
  • Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, "Liberation Theology" (preliminary notes to 1984 Instruction)

  Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_theology"

  Categories: Catholic theology and doctrine | Social justice | Religion and politics | Christian theology | Liberation theology

  

  
  
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