1 / 15

RELIGION, THE CHURCH, AND LIBERATION THEOLOGY

Explore the evolution of Catholicism in Latin America, from traditional beliefs to Liberation Theology's call for social change and empowerment. Analyze the impact of the Church on politics and society, as well as the rise of Protestantism in the region.

dmcdade
Download Presentation

RELIGION, THE CHURCH, AND LIBERATION THEOLOGY

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. RELIGION, THE CHURCH, AND LIBERATION THEOLOGY LATI 50 Introduction to Latin America

  2. CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS • Reading: • Modern Latin America, chs. 7 and 14 • Optional Paper: • 6-10 pages on a topic of your choosing (approved by TA) • Due in class Tuesday, March 08

  3. CONVENTIONAL WISDOMS • Role of Catholicism • Conservative politics • Authority of priesthood • Unchanging doctrines • Cultures of faith

  4. INCONVENIENT FACTS • 60 % of world’s Catholics, and 90-95% born as Catholics, but: • Only 71% describe selves as Catholic, but attendance at mass is much less • Anti-clericalism and secularism significant • Intense theological ferment • Competition from Protestantism and other religions

  5. POPE FRANCIS I

  6. AGAIN…

  7. … AND AGAIN

  8. HISTORICAL PATTERNS • Syncretism: blending of European (Catholic) and indigenous belief systems • Role of priest in village society: • Preacher, teacher • Arbiter, referee • Path to upward mobility • Trinity of power: elite, military, and clergy • Church as banker • Doctrine of obedience

  9. LIBERATION THEOLOGY • Origins: • Rerum novarum (1891) and Catholic social doctrine • Marxist analysis • Vatican II (1962-65) • Conference of Latin American Bishops (Medellín, 1968) • Principal themes: • Social justice on earth • Poverty a consequence of sin • “Preferential option for the poor” • Need for “liberation” from oppression and from avarice, selfishness, lack of compassion = thus a more perfect relationship with God

  10. MEANS TO LIBERATION • Christian Base Communities • Readings of the Bible • Popular empowerment • Support for revolutionary movements (in some cases), resistance to authoritarian regimes • Opposition from Vatican (Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI) and from institutional Church…less so from Francis I

  11. THE CHURCH AND POLITICS • Difference between institutional hierarchy and regular “orders” (e.g., Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans) • Open support for human rights: • Brazil • Chile • Central America (Nicaragua, El Salvador) • Conservative/reactionary stances: • Argentina • Colombia

  12. RISE OF PROTESTANTISM • Key Doctrines • Direct personal experience of God through baptism in the Holy Spirit (thus, “born again”) • Infallibility of Bible, personal healing • Brazil • Assemblies of God • Universal Church of Kingdom of God • Estimates: 30+ million • Central America • Guatemala • Factors • Charismatic preachers + missionaries • Appeal to migrants in urban slums, provision of practical support systems • No need for literacy (as in reading Bible)

  13. ROOTS, AFRICAN AND INDIGENOUS • African: • Umbanda (Brazil) • Candomblé • Santería (Cuba) • Indigenous: • Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru

  14. AND SO… • Revision of conventional wisdom • Variety and range of experience and roles • Complexity of Latin American society and institutions

More Related