Transcript LIBERATION THEOLOGY

LIBERATION
THEOLOGY
Using
the Bible to demand socio-economic
justice for the poor
Liberation from injustice
How far can Christians go in bringing about
change?
Historical inputs towards L.T.
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The “discovery” of the New World
Spain / Portugal imperial ambitions
Devastation of indigenous peoples
C.19th Independence
Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, El Salvador
Neo-colonialism - 1st World / 3rd World
military oligarchies / multinational corps.
Problems, politics and Theology
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Marxism
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Intellectual interests in society
Revolutionary interests in society: Cuba,
Guevara
The Church responds:
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Vatican: Vatican 2, 1965
Medellin: Columbia, 1968 CELAM conferences
Puebla: Mexico, 1979
Santo Domingo: Mexico, 1993
Liberation Theology on an
intellectual level
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Used social science as a tool for understanding
problems facing society; particularly..
Marxism – an active philosophy supporting social
change and equality, best brought about
through revolution. Social structure and
ownership of resources needs to be levelled out
and shared amongst all, under control of the
state. Critical and makes much use of study to
see what it thinks is really wrong.
The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church was
suspicious of the link with atheist Marxism.
The context
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1960’s Latin America
A Response or reaction to
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Poverty
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Political oppression
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3rd world = 3rd class
Widening the gap
Realisation that this was not ‘the norm’
Conscientization
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Western church response vs
reality
People acted
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Top down reversal
Communides Ecclesias de Bases
Archbishop Romero
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"When the church hears the cry of the oppressed
it cannot but denounce the social structures that
give rise to and perpetuate the misery from
which the cry arises."
Scripture
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Exodus: Liberation of the Israelites
Laws: Deut. 24:19-21, Lev. 19:9-10
Prophets: Isaiah 10, 61 … Amos 5 …
Micah … Zephaniah
Gospels: Matt 5, 25 …Luke 4 …
Liberationist Theology
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Prophetic theology
Eschatological
Structural sin
Interpretation reflection praxis
Eisergesis not exegesis
Transformation and revolution
Aims of Liberation Theology – the mission of
the church in Latin America
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These were emphasised by Gutierrez:
Political and Social transformation – daily life level
of change
 Emancipation of the poor – specific help to the
oppressed
 Breaking free of selfishness and sin – Theological
level
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Ideas developed at Medellin ’68, and
published as “Toward a Theology of
Liberation” ’71
Liberation Theology
Impact on Mission
Lets Go Local
Impact On Mission in U.K.
Context
Immediate Response is context is very different in UK as
we have:
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Freedom of the press
Free education
Life without oppression
Religion in Latin America more the preserve of
the poor
Religion in U.K. almost entirely the preserve of
middle / upper classes
Impact On Mission in U.K.
However is this just an excuse ?
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People socially excluded
People on the margins of society
Growing divide between the have’s & have
nots
Charity does not solve the cause of the
problem
Unfair social & economic order
Impact On Mission in U.K.
Challenge For Us
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Are we guilty of embracing secularism in looking
to inculture the gospel?
Evolutionary nature of our church is orientated
to upholding the status quo
Liberation Theology encourages a greater
emphasis on faith in action
Come on get your hands dirty!!!!
… for he has appointed
me to preach good news
to the poor
that the blind will see
He has sent me to
proclaim that captives
will be released
that the downtrodden
will be freed from
their oppressors
and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come
Luke 4: 18,19
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Written by:
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David Moulden
Iorwerth Price
Rob Ryan
Nick Witham