Topic 12 - Liberation Theology

Question 1

what does marx mean by historical materialism?

Answer 1

All processes of the world are governed by physical material forces, humans contribute to the material conditions are in turn are affected by them

History indicates that people cannot manage sustained periods of stability and in turn society has to be rebuilt regularly (historical materialism)

Question 2

according to marx what factors lead to alienation?

Answer 2

means of production

god and religion

Question 3

how has god and religion led to alienation?

Answer 3

‘the abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for real happiness’

said belief that god drove history is false happiness and leads to false illusions. abolition of religion would get rid of this

Question 4

how has means of production led to alienation?

Answer 4

in a capitalist society when what matters is prodution of goods everyone becomes alienated and dehumanised

this is because the worker has no power to control production and is merely ‘an appendage of the machine’

Question 5

what does marx mean by bourgeoise and proletariat?

Answer 5

marx named 2 classes. bourgeoise (owners of production) and proletariat (the workers)

marx said revolution occurs when people realise their place in society isn’t governed by god or nature and have attempted to free themselves

Question 6

what does marx mean by praxis?

Answer 6

idea derived from historical materialism

praxis is the belief that as history is constantly changing, then humans have the ability to understand the material conditions of any situation and change them

“philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it”

Question 7

how does marx influence LT on historical materialism?

Answer 7

established LT as a contextual theology by reversing traditional top down with a bottom up theology.

as marx argued once we see how history has developed the material and economic basis for society then we can understand other human institutions.

Question 8

how does LT use the idea of ‘bottom up’?

Answer 8

As a bottom up theology begins with actual human experience of suffering, alienation and hope

thus, christian materialists argue that the kingdom of god isn’t heaven, but a reversal of material society based on christian values

“blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (matthew 5:5)

Question 9

how is LT influenced by critique of capitalism?

Answer 9

share the basic idea that humans are designed to work and be productive (genesis 1:28)

jose porfirio miranda used marx suspicion of private property influencing the idea of land owner thinking he controls those who live on his land

Question 10

how does jose porfirio miranda criticise marx?

Answer 10

says capitalism has been about due to human sin at the beginnging of time

says the cause of private ownership is provided in the second amendment (against idolatry) which warns against treating God as an object

jose porfirio miranda said marx not believing in god meant he didn’t understand

Question 11

how did marx influence the 3rd ever meeting of the latin american catholic church catholic bishops at puebla in 1979?

Answer 11

coined the term ‘integral liberation’ which is the idea that promoting liberation is an essential part of the church’s role

puebla’s call was for this to occur with ordinary people being involved in the church decision making process

this was controversial as the church was previously viewed as an extension of the state

Question 12

how has marx influenced LT on praxis?

Answer 12

Lt points to the live of Jesus in the Bible where he fights inequalities and see this as an example for them to follow.

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

Christian theology doesn’t have the tools to do analysis necessary into the causes of inequality and thus many theologians turn to marx as an explanation

Question 13

how has marx influenced LT on social sin and alienation

Answer 13

makes christians re-think their view of sin. in traditional terms sin refers to personal disobedience of God’s will lT considers sin in the social and economic structures of society, they refer to this as structural sin which causes members of society to become isolated from one another on a deeper level.

Question 14

what does boff mean by “companion along the way’?

Answer 14

says that marxism’s influence regarding structural sin could be seen through the original sin and so it merely helped.

Question 15

how does joseph ratzinger believe marxism has too much engagement with LT?

Answer 15

1984 - “Instruction on certain aspects of ‘theology of liberation”

says its reductionist, by interpreting sin in terms of social structures it equates salvation with praxis and revolution, not gods grace

Question 16

how does alistair kee believe LT has too little engagement with Marxism?

Answer 16

‘resistance to marx is the cause of its failure’

says LT has taken aspects on marxism but not all and that you can’t ‘cherry pick ideology’

LT has ignored that marxism relies on historical materialism (radical change) and is too conservative to embrace these changes

Question 17

what does lt mean by ‘preferrential option of the poor’?

Answer 17

also established at puebla 1979

means the christian duty to side with solidarity and act against exploitation

Question 18

what 5 reasons did boff brothers give for preferential optional for the poor?

Answer 18

ESCHATOLOGICAL MOTIVATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT

moment when god judges the world will be based on whether a person has sided with the poor (Matthew 25)

Question 19

what does LT mean by orthodoxy?

Answer 19

official teaching of the catholic church

Question 20

what does LT mean by orthopraxis?

Answer 20

the right action needed to bring about justice for the poor

LT distinguishes between the two as the idea of feeding the poor should come before urging them to be good christian should be natural

orthopraxis has been developed in 2 ways, first act praxis and second act praxis

Question 21

what is the first praxis developing orthopraxis?

Answer 21

pre-theological, does not begin with doctrine or teaching of the church but simply understanding that justice and exploitation is wrong.

Boff advocated this through visits to the poor

Question 22

what is the second praxis developing orthopraxis?

Answer 22

the three mediations - Gutierrez - ‘theology does not produce pastoral activity, rather it reflects on it’

1st mediation - seeing (understand reasons for oppression

2nd mediation - judging (reflect on the situati on from a christian perspective and in the word of boff ‘what has god to say about this?’

3rd mediation - acting

Question 23

what is the boff brothers book?

Answer 23

“Introducing liberation theology” 1987

Question 24

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 1

christianity not marxism, liberation from sin

Answer 24

A: Marxism rejects religion, viewing as a source of alienation and oppression completely opposed to Christianity

Question 25

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 1 - counter argument

socio-analytical mediation (boff brothers)

Answer 25

• Leonardo and Clovodis Boff, in ‘Introducing Liberation Theology’ explain that Marx is merely a useful tool for doing theology, “a companion along the way”, whilst retaining there is only one teacher – Jesus
• As part of the proposed ‘Three Mediations’ which would create a “new spirit” and radical approach to LT, the Boff brothers explain the socio-analytical mediation – Marxism (as a social science) should be used to analyse causes of oppression, to help Christians and the Church develop a solution to tackling it. For praxis to be effective, one needs to first analyse the causes of injustice – theology lacks this analytical means, and is why liberation theologians use Marxism (AS A TOOL ONLY)

Question 26

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 1 - counter response

all you need is bible - liberation from sin is a result of fall, not because economics (ratzinger)

Answer 26

• Liberation is at the heart of Christianity, but it is liberation from “radical slavery of sin” not economic conditions
• Ratzinger – only God can remove human suffering – the preferential option for the poor does nothing for the individual, as it will not affect your soul – need to focus on individual sin to enter heaven/the Kingdom of God

Question 27

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 1 - conclusive response

hermeneutic mediation (miranda)

Answer 27

• Hermeneutic mediation – interpreting the bible in light of liberation theology, looking for Biblical accounts to support it by using Marxism, one is able to read the Bible in a much more beneficial way, new meaning able to be discovered. Miranda argues the Bible can actually be seen as more radical than Marx! Second of the Ten Commandments is against Idolatry, suggesting God’s word/ creation must not be treated as objects!
• ECCLESIAL BASE COMMUNITIES: Began to interpret the bible eisegetically, looking at people’s own experiences to guide their interpretation of the Gospels the focus on Jesus’ message of liberation led ordinary people to become more involved with their beliefs, replacing the alienation thought to arise within the hierarchical church.

Question 28

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 2 - marxism better than christianity, orthopraxis over orthodoxy, practical mediation

Answer 28

• BY USING MARX’S IDEOLOGIES TO STUDY CAUSES OF SIN, ONE CAN THEN ACT TO TACKLE THEM As the cause is structural, structures must be changed through reversal (of hierarchy) to eliminate collective sin!
• “Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it” (Marx) – Marxism is a reminder that it is the people who must change things, and that theology cannot be purely theoretical and personal
• LT accuses the Christian Church for putting too much emphasis on orthodoxy (right belief and ritual) when they should instead be focused on orthopraxis (right action), especially in countries where a large number of people are impoverished
• ‘Bottom-up’ theology – begins with material conditions of the poor rather than focus on Church teaching

Question 29

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 2 - counter argument

theology before action (oscar romero)

Answer 29

• Oscar Romero – critical of LT, liberation must first be spiritual, and then practical; too much emphasis on Marxism undermines the distinctiveness of Christianity and Jesus as a saviour
• All one needs is faith in God and belief in Jesus as Son of God, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14)

Question 30

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 2 - counter response

cheap grace enforces alienation (sheep and goats, peoples church)

Answer 30

• But Romero’s approach is simply faith without the act, which is meaningless and has no impact in this world -
• Liberations saw the fault of the Catholic Church in Latin America as focusing on doctrine, rituals and hierarchy as opposed action – Sheep and the Goats; judged on actions not beliefs! Jesus criticism of the Pharisees!
• PEOPLES CHURCH: Meeting of Latin American Catholic bishops at Puebla 1979 – integral liberation, essential duty of the Church to deal with external economic conditions which have created social structures of sin and injustice, not just personal sin. People’s Church (iglesia popular) controversial because it recognised the ordinary Church was merely an expansion of the state, a source of their alienation and oppression! Puebla shared Marxist suspicion that institutions give power to the few over the many – challenged the Church’s authority, argued it should be a community founded on love and solidarity

Question 31

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 2 - conclusive response

LT is reductionist as only sees salvation through praxis (luther +barth)

Answer 31

• LT is reductionist – by interpreting sin only in terms of social structures it equates salvation with praxis, not God’s grace
• Engaging in secular ideologies to learn about how to go about God’s will seems to reduce God’s divinity to a human level – “reason is a whore” (Martin Luther), many Christians have seen the dangers of human ideologies and reason (Nazism, Barth), they should be treated with suspicion and not used at the forefront of theology!
• Establishing the Kingdom of God comes only through God’s grace, not human struggle

Question 32

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 3

preferrential option for poor supported via jesus as liberator (luke’s gospel)

Answer 32

• Dictates that Christians have a responsibility to first care for those who are marginalised or powerless in society before those who are privileged – vital part of Christianity’s goal of justice and living the moral life
• Luke’s gospel and reversal – focus on social revolution, the idea that the Kingdom of God is among us; theology starts with earth and people, not with doctrine and God, Jesus brings “good news” to the poor and commands authorities to “let the oppressed go free” Kingdom of God is not an abstract utopia (ultimate false-consciousness) but must be worked towards in the present

Question 33

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 3 - counter argument

political liberation/violence not christian (pope francis)

Answer 33

• Pope Francis in ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ seems to reaffirm the importance of the preferential option for the poor, arguing that those who are poor will be in greater need of spiritual care as they will be more likely to be preoccupied with day-to-day survival
• Although caring for the weak and marginalised is imperative, one cannot go against the teachings against violence, “those who live by the sword, die by the sword”
• Reversal in liberation theology ignores the wider implications of revolution in Marx – while Marx believed workers could realise their oppression, he believed the bourgeoisie would never willingly give up their power, and violence would be necessary. The weaker principle of reversal in liberation theology, which does not espouse violence due to principles such as agape, fails to explain how praxis could occur without violence

Question 34

ESSAY PLAN - LIBERATION THEOLOGY

“does LT engage with Marxism enough?”

“Should christianity engage with secular atheist ideologies?”

POINT 3 - conclusive response

christianity and LT at risk of becoming too conservative/traditional to bring about real change (alister kee + camilo torres)

Answer 34

• Jesus often used violence against oppressive authorities, Christianity has used violence throughout history – if the love brought about is greater than the implications of violence used, it remains Christian
• Camilo Torres – words without action are empty, faith requires revolution Alistair Kee ‘Marx and the Failure of Liberation Theology’ – “resistance of Marx is the cause of its failure”