Liberation Theology Flashcards
What sparked the Liberation theology movement?
Liberation Theology began in 1970s Latin America as many poor people were under the control of oppressive governments and workers faced alienation and exploitation.
What did Gustavo Gutierrez say about Marxism and Liberation theology?
He was known as the father of liberation theology and he said that although he is a Christian he was influenced by Marxism as it is the tool to bring about the change Jesus talked about. He said that we are all guilty of personal but there is also structural sin in society which is built on inequality. Liberation should first challenge structural and then personal sin.
What did Camilo Torres argue about liberation theology?
He left the Catholic priesthood and joined the Communist People’s Army and was killed in action. He said, “if Jesus was born today he would be a guerrillero”.
What texts are important in Liberation theology?
Liberation theology uses the hermeneutic of suspicion. Followers are particularly inspired by Luke’s Gospel as the main theme is a social revolution and Luke writes about the Kingdom of God as here and now. Also in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats God says “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers you do for me” which implies a preferential option for the poor.
What is Orthopraxy in Liberation theology?
It is not just enough to believe injustice is a sin (Orthodoxy) but that belief should lead to change (praxis)
What are the keywords for Marxism?
Capitalist bougeoisie proletariat dehumanising alienation religion false conciousness revolution praxis
What is Marx’s theory?
Karl Marx argued in a capitalist society the proletariat becomes dehumanized so that the bourgeoisie can make a profit. The workers endure soulless conditions doing mindless jobs as part of a production line which means they are alienated from creativity or any means of expressing themselves. They accept poor conditions and wages as a factor in life. One of the contributing factors in this status quo is religion which keeps workers a false consciousness of two reasons: they believe it is the God-given hierarchy so must accept their place and that this is a test and they will be rewarded in heaven. Marx wanted the proletariat to rise up and overthrow the bourgeoisie so his theory demonstrates praxis - it is a reflect process moving from theory to action.
What are the arguments for Christianity engaging in Marxist ideologies?
+ The church should be criticized if they have become a tool of capitalism and be prepared to change. Jesus showed this as he stood up to the priests and criticised them.
+ Followers of Natural Law may argue that as reason is God-given it is part of everyone’s human nature and Marxist reasons can be backed up with the Bible eg) Luke’s gospel
+ Gutierrez’s Christianity still remains distinctive as he follows the Bible and Jesus. He simply saw Marxism as a tool to bring about change.
What are the arguments against Christianity engaging in Marxist ideologies?
- Marx criticised Christianity as a tool of oppression and favoured a world without religion. Surely embracing some of his arguments open the way to embracing all of his arguments which allows unorthodoxy to enter the church
- If Marxism is right then this means the absolute truth is available to non-believers and reason is more important than the Bible and the church
What are the arguments for Christianity tackles social issues best?
- Christianity seems to deal with social issues at a local level and their interpretation of the Sheep and the Goats lead to them setting up food banks, street pastors, and the Salvation Army to tackle drug addiction and homelessness. In this way, they meet people’s physical and spiritual needs and the church becomes a family. This personal approach is missing in Marxism
- Some followers of Liberation Theology like Camilio Torrez suggest that the only way to bring social change is violence however a Christian would say we should follow the advice of St Paul who said that we should “submit to the governing authorities” as revolutions are bloody and don’t turn out as intended
- A Christian would say its strengths are in its spirituality and people’s lives can be transformed by belief as belief in a higher power can have a positive psychological effect which is missing from secular ideologies like Marxism.
- Martin Luther King used a gentle approach to bring about change saying “turn the other cheek” and instructed followers to “meet hate with love”. His own beliefs gave him the courage to fight peacefully and were effective
What are the arguments for Marxism tackles social issues best?
- Liberation theology offers a Christian approach to revolution. Christian priests in Latin America chose to live alongside the impoverished and taught them to read and write so they could defend their human rights. Gutierrez was concerned with both structural and personal sin.
- Marxism would argue that Christianity’s approach of using spirituality to comfort the poor is reinforcing a false consciousness were people accept the conditions they live in.
What are the arguments for Liberation Theology has engaged with Marxism too much?
- Marx denies the importance of the individual in his class struggle as well as the existence of God. It is too dangerous to engage in these beliefs and allow unorthodoxy to enter into the church. Liberation Theology is right to prioritize the poor but shouldn’t use Marxism as a tool as there are better ways to bring about change.
- Liberation Theology puts structural sin before personal sin and has lost sight of the central message of Christianity - Jesus’ death and salvation. Instead, we should focus on the change God can bring in our lives.
What are the arguments for Liberation Theology has not engaged with Marxism enough?
- Christianity’s gentle approach has barely scraped the surface of the full scale of poverty and Christians should engage with political revolution
- Christians use Marx’s atheism to ignore the rest of his ideas
Is it right for Christians to prioritize one group over another?
+ In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats God says “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers you do for me” which implies a preferential option for the poor.
- On the otherhand, this can be interpreted as spiritual poverty rather than material poverty. The church should prioritize anyone oppressed by their own sin eg) The Rich Man and Lazarus
