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Theology Basics > Liberation Theology > Flashcards

Liberation Theology Flashcards

1
Q

Liberation theology specification

A

Marx teaching on alienation and exploitation
Marx to analyse social sin
Preferential option for the poor

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2
Q

Matthew 25:46

A

Jesus said, anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me

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3
Q

What does the parable of the sheep and the goats make clear

A

Christians need to see Jesus in the poor and this be motivated to help them

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4
Q

Religion is the…

A

Opium of the people
- Marx

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5
Q

Two objects in Marx’s life

A

Dethrone God
Destroy capitalism

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6
Q

First requisite for the people’s happiness is the…

A

Abolition of religion
- Marx

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7
Q

What is a capitalist state

A

Class divisions
Means of production Privately owned
Production operated by profit

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8
Q

What is a socialist state (BEST FOR LT)

A

Limited class divisions
Means of production is communally owned and regulate many democratic government
Production operated for societal needs

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9
Q

What is a communist state (USED BY MARX)

A

No class divisions
Means of production controlled by the state
Production operated for basic needs
Typically obtained in force

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10
Q

What aspects of Marx does LT use

A

Theories of alienation and exploitation as a tool for understanding poverty

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11
Q

What was Marx’s aim

A

A classless society and a communist state
Includes abolishing the religious institutions and capitalism

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12
Q

What is historical materialism

A

The material or physical conditions of all processes in the world, which develop through a process of conflict, then harmony, then conflict

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13
Q

What is Praxis

A

Action

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14
Q

What do liberation theologians think about Praxis

A

Theology had become too abstract. The point is to change the world, not just think about it

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15
Q

When does alienation occur

A

When humans are dehumanised and unable to live fulfilling lives

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16
Q

When does exploitation occur

A

When humans are treated as objects and a means to an end

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17
Q

Examples of alienation and exploitation

A

Production line: takes away creativity
Private ownership: makes people think others can be used

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18
Q

What was Marx’s reasoning for viewing belief in God as a cause of alienation and exploitation

A

1) rejected God being a driving force of history
2) gave power to the state of ruling group to control the population

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19
Q

What does it mean that the proletariat are in a state of false consciousness

A

Unaware of the ways they were being exploited and alienated

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20
Q

How is religion a form of false consciousness

A

Gives false hope and brainwashed us into being okay with suffering

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21
Q

Three ways religion is a form of false consciousness

A

1) glorifies suffering (pick up your cross)
2) afterlife (accept earthly injustice)
3) divine right to rule (causes inequality)

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22
Q

How is capitalism a form of alienation and exploitation

A

Competitive nature makes harmonious life impossible

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23
Q

What part of Marx’s theories does Liberation theology ignore

A

Views on religion

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24
Q

‘Liberation theology used Marxism purely as an…

A

Instrument

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25
Q

When I feed the poor,
They call me a saint’

A

But when I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist
- Archbishop Camara

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26
Q

Class divide in Latin America in the 60s caused

A

High infant mortality
Government corruption
Slums
Gangs

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27
Q

What was the ideological battle of the 60/70s

A

Capitalism vs communism

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28
Q

Where did LT notably gain lots of support

A

El Salvador

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29
Q

Who was Archbishop Oscar Romero

A

Archbishop of El Salvador and made a saint in 2018

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30
Q

What did Oscar Romero do

A

Stood up for the rights of the poor, leading to his assassination in 1980, shot dead whilst celebrating mass

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31
Q

When else did standing for LT push to killings

A

1989, Salvadoran army murdered six Jesuit Priests and their housekeeper and daughter

32
Q

What is Liberation Theology

A

Emerged in Latin America in response to the oppression of the poor from government corruption

33
Q

What is Liberation Theology

A

Emerged in Latin America in response to the oppression of the poor from government corruption

34
Q

Who founded LT

A

Catholics Priest, Gustavo Gutierrez

35
Q

What does LT advocate

A

Social Justice
Right actions over right beliefs
Needs of the poor prioritised

36
Q

What does LT advocate

A

Social Justice
Right actions over right beliefs
Needs of the poor prioritised

37
Q

What is orthodoxy and orthopraxis

A

Right belief and right action

38
Q

What quote speaks to the transformation of society

A

The kingdom of God is among you
Luke 17:21

39
Q

Why does LT use Marxist analysis

A

Christian’s Theology can’t analyse sources of injustice

40
Q

What causes the opposition to LT

A

Marxism is critical of religion

41
Q

What is the hermeneutic of suspicion

A

Questioning the original/ traditional interpretations of the Bible

42
Q

What does the hermeneutic of suspicion involve in LT

A

A Marxist reading

43
Q

What does Alistair Kee think of LT using Marxism

A

The failure of LT arises not from too much attention to Marx’s social analysis, but from too little attention to his criticism of religion

44
Q

What happened to Catholic Colombian Priest, Camilo Torres Restrepo

A

A proponent of LT, joined the National Liberation Army to fight for oppression. Killed in action

45
Q

What is social sin/structural sin

A

Injustices in our institutions and social structures, it exacerbates dehumanisation and is made worse by those who allow structures in society

46
Q

What three structures in society exacerbate social sin

A

Government
Schools
Churches
Capitalism

47
Q

What does LT feel about the Church

A

Focuses too much on orthodoxy at the expense of orthopraxis, not doing enough to to challenge oppression

48
Q

What are the two types of liberation needed to rebuild our relationship with God

A

Social - freedom of social sin
Spiritual - freedom of personal sin

49
Q

What is a preferential option for the poor

A

Christian’s duty to positively discriminate in favour of the poor
AIMED FOR those with privilege

50
Q

What is important in preferential treatment being an option

A

Solidarity is a free act so the church becomes radically egalitarian

51
Q

What are Christian base communities in Latin America

A

Emphasise the importance of orthopraxis over orthodoxy. Provide food, shelter, and pastoral care and teach basic Christian beliefs

52
Q

Boff brother’s five motivations that justify the preferential option for the poor

A

Eschatological
Apostolic
Ecclesiastical
Theological
Christological

53
Q

What is eschatological motivation

A

Parable of the sheep and the goats (God will judge based on whether a person has sided with the poor)

54
Q

What is apostolic motivation

A

After Jesus’ death, first apostles raised a general levy to raise money to help the poor

55
Q

What is Christological motivation

A

Jesus sided with the poor and acts in solidarity with those marginalised by society

56
Q

What is ecclesiological motivation

A

All Christians should seek the transformation of society as a matter of faith

57
Q

What is theological motivation

A

God is a ‘living God’ who is immanent in the world and seeks justice, as we must

58
Q

The kingdom of God is…

A

Among you
- Luke 17:21

59
Q

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle….

A

Than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven
- Matthew 19:24

60
Q

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine…

A

You did for me
- parable of the sheep and the goats

61
Q

What quote sums up orthopraxis as to feeding the poor

A

Bread before theology

62
Q

What is First Act Praxis

A

Pre-theological
Experiencing poverty and identifying what needs to change
Grounded in theological motivations

63
Q

What is second act praxis

A

Judging what the word of God has to say about what has been observed the acting to bring about change

64
Q

What are the three mediations

A

Seeing, Judging, Acting
How to move from first act to second act praxis

65
Q

What is seeing (socio-analytic mediation)

A

Using Marx’s theories of A&E to analyse society

66
Q

What is judging (hermeneutic mediation)

A

Judging how to change society using the Bible, including applying a Marxist lens

67
Q

What is acting (practical mediation)

A

Doing something practical to bring about change

68
Q

Large discussion point about first mediation

A

First is the only important one. In changing poverty the only important thing is analysis, not biblical reading. But if the second is removed it is NOT CHRISTIAN

69
Q

What is the Catholic Church stance on LT

A

Always praised the concern for the poor but criticised
Use of Marxism
Emphasis on material poverty
It’s criticism of the Church

70
Q

Jean Paul II on LT

A

Unsympathetic to Lt likely from Marxist influences (lived through communist takeover of Poland)

71
Q

Benedict XVI on LT

A

Write numerous articles opposing LT in the 1980s

72
Q

Francis on LT

A

Sympathetic to some aspects, met Gutierrez at the Vatican.
Took on the name Francis to symbolise commitment to the poor and the first from south America

73
Q

Francis on LT

A

Sympathetic to some aspects, met Gutierrez at the Vatican.
Took on the name Francis to symbolise commitment to the poor and the first from south America

74
Q

Joseph Ratzinger’s (Benedict XVI) criticisms of LT: ‘seem to put liberation from sin in second place’

A

Emphasis on material world rather than spiritual

75
Q

Joseph Ratzinger’s (Benedict XVI) criticisms of LT: ‘suffering is not purely and simply equated with the social condition of poverty’

A

Disregards other forms of suffering

76
Q

Joseph Ratzinger’s (Benedict XVI) criticisms of LT: ‘first the bread, then the word of the Lord. It is a fatal error to separate the two and even worse to oppose the one to the other’

A

Action before theology is reductionist of the truth of the Bible

77
Q

The Catholic Church now

A

Has grown less opposed to LT
Named Oscar Romero a saint
Gutierrez invited to the Vatican in 2013

Theology Basics (5 decks)

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