3 liberation theology Flashcards
Marx on religion
“religion is the opium of the masses”
religion instils a false-consciousness, legitimising social hierarchies and preventing the working class from realising they are being exploited. convinces the working class their natural position in society is a fault of their own
promotes the idea that if working hard, the reward of heaven in next life. plus divine appointment of rulers and the great chain of being.
marx on different industries
he lived through the evolution of cottage industry (made own crafts in home then sold) to the industrial revolution where factories were under control of owner and workers were “cogs in the machine” and used as a means to an end
lack of labour laws = even children crawling under machine to fix them + injuries. long hours, poor conditions and little pay
marx on species essence
gattungswesen
Eric Fromm descrives it as “the essence of a man” which is realised in productive activity
he must be in an organic relationship with the activity and works produced = for work to be fulfilling
under capitalism, workers are alienated from their species essence
marx solution
predicts a class struggle where
workers needed to organise and revolt by seizing the means of production
“workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains”
marx on serfs
before modernisation, farmers owned the land they cultivated and found fulfillment in that. but, with private ownership increasing, this left serfs to work = beginnings of capitalism
marx quote on alienation and community
“society does not consist of individuals”
we need “connections and relationships” - this is where we gain fulfillment. to other people and our work
“a man becomes an abstract activity and a stomach”
class divisions emerge out of capitalism - those who had control over the means of production and those who didn’t
Peter Kropotkin background
born in an aristocratic family but a proponent of anarchist communism. Influenced but not completely aligned with marxism
book - The Conquest of Bread
Peter Kroptkin quotes
“all that enables a man to produce and increase his power of production has been seized by the few”
in both industrial and agricultural senses
“The emancipation of the working class must be the work of the workers themselves”. - workers need to organise, unite, and take responsibility for dismantling systems of exploitation and oppression.
Peter Kropotkin general ideas
Anarchist Communism: envisioned a stateless society with free distribution of goods based on need rather than labor contribution. Private property would be abolished, and resources would be shared equitably.
He proposed decentralized systems where local communities govern themselves autonomously and collaborate voluntarily through federations
marx define superstructure
includes societal instituitons eg family, education, religion, media, politics which reinforce social hierarchies, oppressing the working class
marx define dominant ideology
the ruling ideas in any society were those od the ruling class, enforced by superstructures
eg church convinces that social positions are natural rather than artificial to stop rebellions
marx strengths
+Marxism adopts a systemic view of society, analyzing the interactions between social classes, economic forces, and institutions. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of societal dynamics and inequalities. Scholars like Antonio Gramsci have expanded this framework to include cultural hegemony, explaining how dominant ideologies maintain power
+ focus on private ownership of the means of production provides an explanation for extreme social inequalities.
+ recogising the importance of society’s social structure links to consciousness
marx weaknesses
- Marxism’s opposition to private property limits entrepreneurial opportunities and innovation, which critics like Ludwig von Mises argue are essential for economic progress
- doubts over the viability of practical implementation eg China, USSR, Cuba. not just authoritarianism but extreme poverty - capitalists make opportunities and contribute to economic development
- Classical Marxism overemphasizes conflict by portraying society as inherently divided between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, neglecting periods of stability and cooperation. Functionalists, such as Talcott Parsons, argue that society is held together by shared values and institutions that promote cohesion rather than constant antagonism. This critique undermines Marx by suggesting his framework oversimplifies societal dynamics and fails to account for the integrative functions of social structures.
- romanticises pre-capitalist work forms where they were often physically demanding and didnt allow autonomy.
- vague in this revolution thing
marx define commodity fetishism
capitalism and material goods are placed above love, marriage, happiness for economic reasons.
cuban revolution
Fidel Castro and Che Guevara overthrew US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and established a Marxist government
expansion of education, but housing shortages and economy stagnated.
Oscar Romero life
1977 appt Archbishop of San Salvador. Assassination of friend Rutilio Grande (an advocate for rights of poor) pushed Romero to publicly denounce violence and human rights abuse in the country.
spoke out against government brutality eg assassination of activists, defended the poor as inequality grew and condemned the concentration of wealth and power.
He too was assassinated
how was marxism helpfil in colombia
FARC was the most influential guerrilla group in Colombia. sought to establish a marxist state and inspired by cuban revolution
marxism provided a lens through which to understand the colombian state as an instrument of oppression that served interests of capitalist class and bourgeois.
Camilo Torres Restrepo basic
colombian, catholic priest.
exposed to poverty and social inequality in colombia, deeply disillusioned with the status quo. particularly influenced by marxist class struggle between the oppressor and oppressed.
marxism provided a way to undesrtand the unequal structures of colombian society and need for systemic change.
Revolution
the church needed to stand with the oppressed even if meant revolutionary change.
jesus standing with the marginalised
- good samaritan
- camel in eye of needle, table of money lenders, parable of lazarus and rich man
- healing the blind, bleeding woman
- sat at table of sinners
- love thy neighbour
good samaritan passage
luke 10:30
help those alien to you + church needs praxis
money lenders table passage
matthew 21:12
money should not be valued above religion
camel eye of needle passage
luke 18:25
material wealth means nothing spiritually, let it go
healing blind man passage
matthew 9:27
stand with the marginalised
healing bleeding woman passage
matthew 9:20
stand with the marginalised
