liberation theology and marx (12)

Question 1

material forces

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

historical materialism

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

fundamental evil

Answer 3

Marx says historical materialism lens to exploitation, dehumanisation and alienation.

Question 4

capitalism

Answer 4

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

Question 5

upper/working class marxist names

Answer 5

proletariat- working class
bourgeoisie- upper class

Question 6

praxis

Answer 6

analysing a system of injustice and changing it. what Marx thinks people should do about capitalism.

Question 7

false consciousness

Answer 7

idea that the proletariat didnt realise they were being exploited.

Question 8

opium

Answer 8

“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.

Question 9

God and false consiouness

Answer 9

Marx says God is an example of this as he hides the truth from people.

Question 10

Marx’s teachings are successful

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Marx’s teachings are unsuccessful

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

liberation theology

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Marx and Liberation Theology

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Kingdom of God

Answer 14

LT think it is not one at the end of time but a transformation of society by overturning oppresive structure and alienation

Question 15

social sin

Answer 15

a system thar ends in poverty, violence and injustice. says entire systems need to be overturned (schools, state, churches)

Question 16

Liberation theologians

Answer 16

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’

Question 17

Gustavo Guitierrez