Liberation Theology Flashcards
1
Q
Intro:
A
- LT a recent movement in Christianity.
- Liberation theologians think that the teachings of Jesus included addressing poverty.
- a religious christian movement
- They also think that Marx’s economic analysis of society showed that addressing poverty requires addressing the structural causes of economic inequality.
- So, they conclude that Christians ought to address the structural causes of economic inequality.
This challenged traditional Christianity in two ways:
1: Being influenced by ideologies like Marxism.
2: Claiming that charity was insufficient for living up to Jesus’ teachings and example in helping the poor
what is capitalm?, what is liebration ?
2
Q
What is liberation theology?
A
- Began in the 1950s (Latin America), and was popularised in Brazil. - recent development
- Theologians claimed themeselves to find truth of the Christian message in the poverty of Latin America
- leadin theolgian: Gutierrez + Sobrino
- influenced by Karl Marx, whose economic theory claimed that poverty was caused by exploitation of the working class
- Radical change to the structure of the economy was needed, to address the root causes of poverty.
- Liberation theologians think that truly living up to Jesus’ call
3
Q
keyword
alientation
A
- isolated/seperate from society
4
Q
P. Fierre + ‘conscientation’
A
- invented the term ‘conscientisation’ to desrcibe the process by which a person becomes conscious/aware of the power structures.
- He thought that education should liberate people by raising their consciousness, teaching them how to read and write.
- finding ways to change society. in depths of poverty
- ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’
5
Q
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis
A
- Orthropraxy (right practise) should come before othrodoxy (right belief)
- Traditional theology: starts with orthodoxy (theological beliefs) then prescribes action (orthopraxis)
- Liberation theology: begins with orthopraxis (prescribing action) then determines orthodoxy
- Focus of Liberation theology: addressing structural causes of economic injustice
- Goal of Liberation theology: addressing practical reality to fulfill Jesus’ message of helping the poor
- Kingdom of God in Liberation theology: focused on fixing this world, not afterlife
6
Q
QUOTES for liberation theology - a theology of hope
A
- ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ matthew 5:3
- ‘The resurrection, which is the ultimate form of liberation’
-
Exodus 9 “ Let my people go, so that they may worship me’.
Matthew 19 ‘ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God’ - suggests that its. theology of hope = these are parables of the struggle for liberation of the poor, the oppressed.
- liberation is part of God’s continuing work of creating and sustaining the world
7
Q
Two kinds of liberation according to Gutierrez:
A
-
Two kinds of liberation according to Gutierrez:
1. Social and economic liberation: addressing poverty and oppression caused by human action - acting upon it
2. Liberation from sin: achieved through reconciliation with God- put the action firsts than putting scared text - bible first
- we are all part of the structural sin
- similar to bonhoeffer
- oppression and poverty caused by us.- so duty to prevent it
- Segundo’s perspective: liberation from sin should precede social and economic liberation, as fixing societal injustices may be impossible.
8
Q
Marx, alienation + exploitation
A
- The influence of Marxism on Christianity is controversial because Marx was so against religion
- marx’s aim was to investigate the causes of social instability.
- marx argued a major cause of alienation is belief in God.
- he rejected God being the driving force of history. The poor are blind and belief that God controls is a false-consciousness, leading to false hopes and illusions.
- In order to overcome exploitation and alienation we must abolish religion.
- The alternative is communism.
9
Q
bourgeoisie and proletariat
A
- In his analysis of history marxs observed that at various times the exploited have realised their position is not ordained by God and have attempted to free themselves.
- Such moments have been met with violent oppression by those who fear their power will be lost.
- For marx this was most prevalent in the industrial revolution. he named the two classes the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
10
Q
praxis
A
- Is analysing the situation which has oppression, work out what caused it and then change it
- The problem with philosophy, marx says, is that its analysis does not change anything.
11
Q
Guitierrez & Boff on the influence of Marxism
A
- Liberation theologians argue that there is no incoherence for Christians in being influenced by Marx.
- Their basis for this argument - one can accept Marx’s economic views but not his anti-religious views.
- Gutierrez only accepted Marx’s critique of capitalism, not Marx’s anti-religious views.
- L. Boff also agreed with this stance, arguing that liberation theology can draw on Marx’s to help understand ‘the role of the oppressed’
- Liberation theology is an attempt to faithfully follow Jesus’ teaching to help the poor and the influence of Marx is merely in detailing the method for efficiently achieving that goal - links to business ethics - by incorporating Marx’s critique of capitalism to address economic oppression while adhering to Christian values of helping the poor.
12
Q
Guitierrez
A
argues that Christians should destroy the roots of exploitation and oppression by living a Christian life and working for peace and justice in the hope of creating the Kingdom of God on earth. Liberation theology gives hope to poor and oppressed. Earthly liberation comes first.
done in 2 ways ^^
bring the beautidue/camel quote
13
Q
Pope John Paul II
A
- thought that the preferential option for the poor was an important part of ‘Christian charity’.
- However, he added that dealing with spiritual poverty was an important focus not just economic poverty.
- Paul II talks about charity, implying the solution is charity not political action.
- Spiritual poverty Paul II defined as anything which results from overattachment to superficial material things such as drugs and ‘other forms of consumerism which exploit the weak.
- He claimed that the cry for justice and preferential solidarity with the poor was “indispensable”, (essential).
14
Q
The preferential option (or TREATMENT) for the poor
A
- first used by Perdo
- Refers to the way the Bible and Jesus showed a preference for helping poor people.
- Jesus said the poor and less fortunate were blessed, especially in the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount.
- This suggests that addressing poverty is part of the example for us set by Jesus.
- Liberation theologians think that Marx’s economic analysis of society shows that addressing poverty requires addressing the structural causes of economic inequality.
- Segundo, (differs from Guitereiez) - focus on LT, then we can counteract for change - we shouldnt stay neutral when it comes to injustice and its political causes- the church NEEDS to stuggle in order to move forward for mankind. - should fight for the rights of all people but especially the poor. - easy to change indicudals. then society
- Example from Paul’s letter to Philemon:
- Acknowledges the persistence of unjust social structures like slavery, emphasising the necessity for Christians to prioritise aiding the poor and standing in solidarity with them
15
Q
Ratzinger + KLOPPENBURG
The cathilic chruch’s response to LT
A
- Ratzinger articulated the catholic church’s disquiet (worry)
- catholic church will continue to stuggle for the poor by using its own means and its own ways - cannot adopt a Marx’s analysis without changing from a christian worldview to a marx’s world view - marxs is inheritently unchristian
- is it dangerous to take part in marxist theology becuase marxism contains intoletant aspects, incluiding the denial of the indivdual and the emphasis on class and communal actions.
- christian liberation should be primarily be understood as spiritual liberation from sin.
