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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. The “discovery” of the New World Spain / Portugal imperial ambitions

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LIBERATION THEOLOGY

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  1. 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?

  2. Historical inputs towards L.T. • 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.

  3. Problems, politics and Theology • Marxism • Intellectual interests in society • Revolutionary interests in society: Cuba, Guevara • The Church responds: • Vatican: Vatican 2, 1965 • Medellin: Columbia, 1968 CELAM conferences • Puebla: Mexico, 1979 • Santo Domingo: Mexico, 1993

  4. Liberation Theology on an intellectual level • 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.

  5. The context • 1960’s Latin America • A Response or reaction to • Poverty • 3rd world = 3rd class • Political oppression • Widening the gap • Realisation that this was not ‘the norm’ • Conscientization

  6. Western church response vs reality • People acted • Top down reversal • Communides Ecclesias de Bases • Archbishop Romero • "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."

  7. Scripture • 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 …

  8. Liberationist Theology • Prophetic theology • Eschatological • Structural sin • Interpretation reflection praxis • Eisergesis not exegesis • Transformation and revolution

  9. Aims of Liberation Theology – the mission of the church in Latin America • 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 • Ideas developed at Medellin ’68, and published as “Toward a Theology of Liberation” ’71

  10. Liberation Theology Impact on Mission Lets Go Local

  11. Impact On Mission in U.K. Context Immediate Response is context is very different in UK as we have: • 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

  12. Impact On Mission in U.K. However is this just an excuse ? • 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

  13. Impact On Mission in U.K. Challenge For Us • 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!!!!

  14. Luke 4: 18,19 … for he has appointed me to preach good news to the poor He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released that the blind will see that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come

  15. Written by: • David Moulden • Iorwerth Price • Rob Ryan • Nick Witham

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