liberation theology and marx (12) Flashcards
material forces
Marx thought the world was controlled by these. humans contribute to such forces and when human/material in harmony people feel useful but this is rare.
historical materialism
humans are rarely in harmony with material. the world moves towards harmony which collapses via conflict and is rebuilt. Marx thought this society had too much instability and we need revolution.
fundamental evil
Marx says historical materialism lens to exploitation, dehumanisation and alienation.
capitalism
to work goods must be produced (alienating humans) , worker must make stuff for higher classes and proletariat essentially machine, they are then opprressed as cant be created and exploitated through spending their wages
upper/working class marxist names
proletariat- working class
bourgeoisie- upper class
praxis
analysing a system of injustice and changing it. what Marx thinks people should do about capitalism.
false consciousness
idea that the proletariat didnt realise they were being exploited.
opium
“It is the opium of the people”
Marx says religion has the sam effect of a drug, a painful hallucination that makes people ignore what is going on around them.
God and false consiouness
Marx says God is an example of this as he hides the truth from people.
Marx’s teachings are successful
- theoretical level, very person centered and may remove oppression
-provides clear analysis of society and helps understand how society is ran - it brings joined up thinking’, different institutions in society do not exist individually
Marx’s teachings are unsuccessful
- capitalism does no neccesairly mean exploitation and there are societies that happily do so
- marxist thought often leads to collapse (eastern europe)
- injustice and inequality persists
liberation theology
emerged from latin america and rejects western approach to christianity which focuses on material and private worship. LT says politics/religion must be seperate and we need to stand in solidarity with the poor
Marx and Liberation Theology
at the core of LT is the idea that religon should try and reverse the oppressive conditions of the poor. similar to Marx who said capitalism needs reversing
Kingdom of God
LT think it is not one at the end of time but a transformation of society by overturning oppresive structure and alienation
social sin
a system thar ends in poverty, violence and injustice. says entire systems need to be overturned (schools, state, churches)
Liberation theologians
Camilo Torres Restrepo (catholic priest fight against colombian gov) others focus on need to live in solidarity with the poor and approach things ‘bottom up’
Gustavo Guitierrez
founder of LT. Looking at oppressive gov in Latin America, GG drew links with orginal sin and social sin. he said christians need to fight against original sin as a sruggle against structual oppression. once that sin is gone we can move onto personal.
Liberation Theology HAS fully engaged enough w Marxism
- acknowledges Jesus the one true teacher but radical steps are required. it has taken an atheist idea to it’s limit.
- has had a positive impact on groups in latin America, showing praxis has been somewhat success
- any futher engagement with marxism may lose christian focus
Liberation Theology HASNT engaged fully enough w Marxism
- LT has not had a global impact and this may because Marxism not engaged enough. too much focus on spiritual.
- still deep injusticr in latin america and greater need for revolution
-shoudl use the marxist system of analysis to apply it to other contexts, not just south america
liberation theologians and jesus
example of Jesus shows positive discrimination in favour of outcasts in society because they need help to have equal happiness.
preferential option for the poor
poor taking priotiy. biblical examples: Amos spoke against ignoring the needy and God taking pity of the Israelites and saving them through Exodus
‘underside of history’
what Guiterrez described the poor as. they are constantly alienated and the church has helped w this by focusing on spirituality-why LT see church as structually sinful.
marxist idea of reversal
overcoming false consiousness to identify where there is alienation. LT means tehre must be action before belief.
‘bottom up’
as christianity spread in Latin America there wasnt always a priest there to lead. became ‘base communities’ which followed LT approach to action first. they were free from structual sin w no priest
base communities
anyone read the bible, interpreted it and acted it. they were encourage to act before reading the bible.
orthopraxis/orthodoxy
orthopraxis- right action
orthodoxy- right belief
LT believe orthodoxy alone couldnt overcome structural sin.
christianity should priorities one group over another
- each of the gospel writers had a different focus, as should different groups depending on local needs
- “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick” Mark 2:17
- to bring justice, injustice needs to be faced. LT does not deny that in the future there may be other needs except poor
Christianity should not priorities one group over another
- some may say it is too focused on the poor. there are many types of peopel in the world who need help.
- Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19), Jesus teaches that teh rich need just as much salvation as anyone
- Jesus death on the corss is central work of salvation and LT has lost this
Pope Benedict XVI
when he was Cardinel Ratzinger he said LT uses Marxism in an uncritical manner, saying it’s impossible to break down marxism as u have to accept all of it. this became catholic church offical sentiment.
Pope Francis
invited Gutierrez as a speaker at the vatican. Francis also said Marxism is wrong but he know good marxists.
6 areas of catholic social teaching
human dignity, community, participation, care for creation, peace, solidarity.
focus on people but not marxist. acknowledges other things, ie 2015 pope Francis Laudato Si- care for environment
politics
liberation theologians must be involved in politics as to shift empasis away from capialist ideas
christianity tackles social issues more efficently than marxism
- marxism has led to revolution but it is unclear whether this has brought more help for the poor
- christianity is more hollistic on social issues than marxism than jujst the poor
- christianity is global and works on a local level
christianity does not tackles social issues more efficently than marxism
- christianity is not radical enough when it comes to social issues
- christianity places too much emphasis on orthodoxy
- christianity is global but hasnt had that much on an impact
Act 2:44-45
‘All the believers were together and had everything in common.’
‘give to anyone in need’
Matthew 6:24
‘you cannot serve both God and money.’
christianity should engage with athiest secular ideologies
- natural theologians would say reason can be somewhat accurate outside tyhe church and so u can be influenced by atheist ideas
- insights offer a new way of looking at the world. Freud mind analysis mjight be helpful
- secular ideas might be atheist but dont challenge religion
- orthopraxis should be more important than orthdoxy
christianity shouldnt engage with athiest secular ideologies
- christianity shouldnt show sympathy for views that reject god
- christians must keep jesus at the center of their lives
- implicantians of atheist ideas should be mentioned- ie marxism inspires violence
- atheist ideologies are too extreme
