liberation theology Flashcards
Capitalism
an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit, in contrast with communism where trade and industry and controlled by the state
conscientisation
the process by which a person becomes conscious of the power structures in society
structural sin
the idea that sin is not just a personal action by something that can be brought about through unjust organisations and social structures
alienation
the process of becoming detached or isolated
exploitation
treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work / resources
preferential option for the poor
the idea that Jesus stood with the poor and oppressed, and that the church should focus on the poor and oppressed and stand in solidarity with them
base Christian communities
Christian groups that gather together to try to directly resolve difficulties in their lives
orthapraxy
right practice
orthodoxy
right belief
followers of liberation theology hold that action must come first, rather than abstract theorising
Gutierrez write that liberation happens in two ways and both must happen if there is to be true freedom. What are these two ways ?
- Liberation from social and economic depression
- Liberation from sin
Jesus said …
‘it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God’
5 points to show that Marxism links in with Christianity
- Christianity has always had an emphasis on the poor- Marx argues that we need to help the power/ those of lower status etc
- Marxism serves to remind Christians of the important focus on the poor within their own faith
- Jesus - the leader of Christianity surrounded himself with the poor and those in needs - fits in with teaching of Marx
- the Catholic Church used the idea of the preferential option for the poor - used by John Paul 2nd (Pope)
- Pope Francis challenges Catholics to love more simply in solidarity with the poor
explain why Marxism may not link in with Christianity
- Marx thought Christianity teaches that God chooses what sort of lives people have, encourages the poor to be meek, and makes false promises of rewards in heaven to compensate for injustice in this world
define liberation theology
- liberation theology is a theological movement about action for the poor which began in Latin American during 1994
what are the two main aims of liberation theology
- stresses that action is more important than academic theology
- aim of the movement was to find ways in which the truth of the Christian message could work in the poverty of Latin America
5 problems that were seen in Latin America
- extreme poverty
- distinction between the rich and the poor
- drug dealers taking power
- corruption in government and police force
- the competing claims of capitalism and communism caused violence