Liberation Theology and Marx

Question 1

Liberation Theology

Answer 1

• Contextual theology
• Believed that the the heart of Christian message is to bring spiritual and material justice and freedom to those who are oppressed

Question 2

Why is liberation theology called a ‘bottom up’ theology?

Answer 2

• It begins first with the poor conditions of the poor and then works up to imposing official Church teaching

Question 3

Why does Marx believe that a belief in God is a major reason for alienation? (Two Reasons)

Answer 3

1. Belief in god creates illusion anjd false hope - responsibility is removed from historical materialism and onto a ‘greater power’
2. Religion can be used by the state to legitemise heirarchy

thus, abolition of religion is the first step to overcoming exploitation and alienation

Question 4

How does Marx argue capitalism leads to alienation and exploitation?

Answer 4

• The worker has no control over the means of production and is an ‘appendage of the machine’

Question 5

What is Praxis? And how does Marx use this to shit on philosophers?

Answer 5

• The idea that history is constantly changing and humans have the ability to understand the material conditions of society and change it
• Liberal Theologians argue that philosophy and theology has become too abstract - point should be to advocate change

Question 6

How do Christians embrace Marx’s ‘bottom up’ approach with the Kingdom of God? (Quote Matthew)

Answer 6

• Allows theology to begin with the actual suffering of people and their alienation
• This allows them to see that the Kingdom of God is not heaven but rather a revision of life on earth along the lines of Christian values
  “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”

Question 7

How do liberation theologians consider the idea of sin?

Answer 7

• Instead of the original notion of sin they consider it in terms of social and economic structures of society (structural sin)

Question 8

Why does Gustavo Gutiérrez believe that Marx and Christianity should not be combined?

Answer 8

viewed Marxism as an overly atheistic political system

Question 9

‘preferential option for the poor’

Answer 9

• The Christian duty to side with the poor in solidarity against exploitation

Question 10

What 3 theological motivations did Boff reveal for ‘preferential option for the poor’

Answer 10

• Theological Motivation; immanant god that seeks justice
• Christological Motivation; Jesus sided with the poor and marginalised
• Eschatological Motivation; Moment God judges the world it will be based on who sided with the poor (parable of sheep and goat)

Question 11

What did Camilo Torres do as a part of preferential option for the poor?

Answer 11

• Argued words are empty and if revolution and violence are needed through the ‘despotic inroads’ then so be it
• His choice to join the Guerillas as a priest

Question 12

What is the idea of orthopraxis and orthodoxy?

Answer 12

• Distinction between right action (orthopraxis) or right teaching of the Church (orthodoxy)
• Being a good Christian is not about Church attendance but by being a good human first through preferential option for the poor

Question 13

What is the Socio-analytical mediation (seeing)

Answer 13

• Analysing and understanding the socio-economic reasons for oppression

Question 14

What did Marx and Engels propose regarding society?

Answer 14

communist society would end class conflicts:

• historical materialism - Each stage in history was a clash about how society’s resources should be distributed.