Liberation Theology And Marx Flashcards

1
Q

What is the ao1 spec for liberation theology and marx

A

Marx teaching ok alienation and exploitation
Liberation theology’s use of Marx to analyse social sim
Liberation theology’s teaching ok preferential option for the poor

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2
Q

What is the ao2 spec for liberation theology and marx

A

Whether Christian theology should engage with atheist ideologies
Whether Christianity tackles social issues more effectively than Marxism
Whether liberation theology has engaged with Marxism fully enough
Whether it is right for Christians to prioritise one group over another

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3
Q

What causes alienation

A

When humans are dehumanised and unable to live fulfilling lives

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4
Q

What causes exploitation

A

When humans are treated as objects and used as a means to an end

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5
Q

What is the bourgeoisie

A

Ruling class (owns the means of production)

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6
Q

What is the proletariat

A

Working class

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7
Q

Why did marx argue that belief in God causes alienation and exploitation

A
  • rejected the belief that God controls history, as this is a false consciousness
  • religion gives power to the state or ruling group to control the population
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8
Q

What is a false consciousness

A

When someone is unaware of the ways in which they are being exploited and alienated

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9
Q

Who was marx

A

19th century German economist and philosopher who’s ideas lead to the development of communism

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10
Q

What is historical materialism

A

Material or physical conditions of all processes in the world which develop through a process of conflict, then harmony, only to fall into conflict again

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11
Q

What was Marx’s quote about religion and what does it mean

A

‘religion is the opium of the people’
- opium causes people to hallucinate and reduces pain
- religion glorifies suffering, the afterlife encourages acceptance of earthly injustices, divine right to rule causes inequality

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12
Q

What did marx say was the second cause of alienation and exploitation, after religion

A

Capitalism

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13
Q

What is praxis

A

Action
- underpinning principle of Marxism, which begins with analysing a situation whether there is oppression or injustice and then working out what has caused it

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14
Q

Where was liberation theology most popular

A

El Salvador

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15
Q

Background context of liberation theology in Latin america

A

Many people lived in poverty due to government corruption
Archbishop Oscar Romero famously associated with the movement, leading to his assassination

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16
Q

What is liberation theology

A

Christian theology that emerged in Latin America in the 1960s in response to ongoing oppression of the poor

17
Q

What is liberation theology’s view on the kingdom of God (heaven)

A

It is the transformation of society here and now

18
Q

How does liberation theology use Marx’s views

A

Uses Marxism as a tool to analyse the social conditions which have led to the alienation and exploitation of the poor
Jesus is still the one true teacher

19
Q

What is the hermeneutic of suspicion

A

Questioning the official or common interpretation of the Bible
Encouraged by liberation theology, which analyses the Bible in the context of Marx’s theories of alienation and exploitation

20
Q

What is social sin

A

Rethinks traditional notions of sin as not just a personal struggle but a societal one
- it refers to injustices in our institutions and social structures that lead to alienation and exploitation

21
Q

How does the catholic church contribute to social sin

A

Focussed too much on orthodoxy (right beliefs) and not enough on orthopraxis (right action)

22
Q

What Are the two types of liberation

A

Social (freedom from social sin)
Spiritual (freedom from personal sin)

23
Q

What is ‘preference’ in the preferential option for the poor

A

Aimed at all Christians who are not poor and therefore have the power and means to place the poor first

24
Q

What is ‘option’ in the preferential option for the poor

A

Idea that solidarity is a free act where the privileged learn to be poor themselves by discarding any feelings of arrogance and superiority

25
Q

What is a Christian base communty

A

Communities in Latin America that play a key role in standing in solidarity with the poor
They emphasise orthopraxis over orthodoxy by providing food, shelter and pastoral care

26
Q

What are the 5 motivations that justify preferential option for the poor, made by the boff brothers

A

Eschatological (when God judges us, as shown in the parable of the sheep and the goats)
Apostolic (first apostles taxed people to raise money for the poor)
Ecclesiological (all Christians should seek the transformation of society)
Christological (jesus helped the poor)
Theological (god would want justice for his people)

27
Q

What is orthopraxis

A

Right action

28
Q

What is first act praxis

A

Experiencing poverty and oppression and identifying what needs to change

29
Q

What is second act praxis

A

Judging what the world of God has to say about what has been observed

30
Q

What do the three mediations do

A

Show us how to move from first act praxis to second act praxis

31
Q

What are the three mediations

A

Seeing - analysing society using marx
Judging - hermeneutic of suspicion applied
Acting - doing something to bring about change

32
Q

How does the catholic church respond to liberation theology

A

Always praised preferential option for the poor, but will not accept it fully

33
Q

Why will the catholic church not accept liberation theology fully

A
  • Marxism is an atheist ideology
  • emphasis on material poverty risks neglecting spiritual poverty
  • suggests that the church contributes to social sin, disregarding that the church has god given authority
34
Q

How did Pope John Paul II respond to liberation theology

A

Concerned over Marxist influences so rejects

35
Q

How did Pope Benedict XVI respond to liberation theology

A

Wrote multiple articles opposing liberation theology

36
Q

How does pope Francis respond to liberation theology

A

Sympathetic to some ideas of liberation theology as he comes from Latin America
He lives a simple lifestyle in order to challenge capitalism

37
Q

How does pope Francis respond to liberation theology

A

Sympathetic to some ideas of liberation theology as he comes from Latin America
He lives a simple lifestyle in order to challenge capitalism