Liberation and Marxism

Question 1

Liberation theology

Answer 1

Focuses on liberating the poor and oppressed from unjust social, political, and economic conditions.
movement in christianity, particularly latin america

Question 2

Preferential Option for the Poor

Answer 2

The idea that God has a special concern for the poor and the Church must prioritise their needs.

Question 3

Praxis

Answer 3

action informed by theory - the cycle of action, reflection, and transformation to change unjust structures.

Question 4

Gustavo Guttierez

Answer 4

Christianity must be lived out through social activism. Salvation involves liberation from injustice here and now, not just in heaven.

Question 5

Leonardo Boff

Answer 5

Brazilian priest who argued that the Church should engage in political activism to resist oppression. Emphasised the Kingdom of God as a present reality.

Question 6

What did Marx say about class struggle

Answer 6

All history is a struggle between the bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers).

Question 7

What did Marx say about religion

Answer 7

“Religion is the opium of the people” – it dulls the pain of suffering and keeps the poor passive.

Question 8

What did Marx say about alienation

Answer 8

Workers are alienated from the product of their labour, from others, and from themselves under capitalism.

Question 9

Cardinal Ratzinger

Answer 9

issued warnings in the 1980s that liberation theology risks reducing faith to politics

Question 10

Secular critcs

Answer 10

Say it fails to bring lasting economic reform or underestimates the complexity of poverty.