liberation theology

Question 1

what is liberation theology

Answer 1

A movement developed by Roman Catholic thinkers and activists in Latin America in the 1960’s that viewed freedom from social oppression as a key area of Christian concern

Question 2

Gustavo Gutierrez

Answer 2

A key scholar. He wrote the book, A Theology of Liberation. He writes that theology should start with human suffering rather than intellectual reflection- You cannot understand Gods oppression if you have not been oppressed.

Question 3

European theology view on God and Christianity

Answer 3

European theology is based on scientific, intellectual, rationalistic spirituality that is there to tackle atheism (Atheists don’t believe in God without scientific evidence). They are in a world ‘come of age’ which is developed in science and technology so are less inclined to believe in God on faith alone.

Question 4

Liberation Theology view on God and Christianity

Answer 4

The context of liberation theology is that of people dying. It springs from pastoral work of priests, observing suffering in the shadow of technical and scientific progress. It is a result of ‘faith confronted by oppression’

Question 5

What is orthodoxy

Answer 5

For centuries the (roman catholic) church did little to help the poor, the focus was rather on intellectual thought or orthodoxy. Gutierrez- From the 12th Cent theology became academic progress rather than religion. Essentially, religion has become a subject to study rather than a religion to practice.

Question 6

What is orthopraxy

Answer 6

Orthopraxy is using theology to encounter and tackles pastoral situations and suffering, essentially, faith in action. Gutierrez argues what is now needed is to see the church as where theology happens, not universities.

Question 7

what are the three foundations for liberation theology in South America

Answer 7

-Politics
-Theology
-Ethics

Question 8

How has politics been a foundation for Liberation Theology in South America

Answer 8

-500 years of economic exploitation and oppression at the hands of the colonies
-The churches association with the rich and ruling classes and landowners
-Capitalism in the 1950’s demanded cheap goods and labour meaning no development of the middle class and the poor stayed poor
-in the 1970’s some priests took part in the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua which led to rebellions in Mexico and Columbia

Question 9

Karl Marx on class struggle

Answer 9

‘The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces… The market, and the capitalist who funds him, flourish, while he, the labourer, becomes poorer’
Marx advocated for radical, violent revolution to overthrow the class system. He also believed:
*Private property should be abolished(of which the church has a lot)
*Workers should unite in revolution
*Revolution should be violent if need be
*Religion keeps people in their place

Question 10

What does Gutierrez believe in term of Karl Marx

Answer 10

Gutierrez believes religion can lead to freedom, and revolution should not be violent. However he promotes socialism as having more of a chance of re-establishing equality between people, as capitalism exploits the poor in the hands of the elite He believes the first two points but not the last two