Liberation Theology is a form of theology that focuses on interpreting the teachings of Christianity (and especially of Jesus) through the lens of a particular ethnic, economic, political, or social condition. The first is a quote from liberation theologian Leonardo Boff: “What we propose is Marxism, historic materialism, in theology.” The second is from the Peruvian Gustavo Gutiérrez: “Our understanding of liberation theology is the participation in the political process of revolution.” The late Pope John Paul II was frequently criticised for the severity with which he dealt with the liberation movement. Priests had been active in the overthrow of a dictator, and had taken jobs in the revolutionary government that followed, despite being forbidden to by the Pope. While that doesn’t necessarily seem like it should be a cause of contention in the church, it has, in the 60 or so years that it has been practiced and thought, caused a tremendous amount of controversy. These are intolerable evils which cry out to heaven and call Christians to a different way of living, to a social commitment more in keeping with their faith. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. .' Rise of Liberation Theology. Liberation theology teaches that the Bible must be interpreted from the perspective of the oppressed and the poor. Liberation theology today is encountered in many different contexts. Ninety percent of liberation theology is linked to Jesus Christ, he explained. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ( 1 Peter 2:21 ) When Jesus was on earth, he lived among a people who were subjects of a colonial power and suffered at the hands of cheating tax collectors. This didn't exclude social action - far from it, but the social action should be in the image of the gospel and the gospel was open to everyone. Tag: liberation theology Outline and explain two ways in which religion might promote social change This is a suggested answer to the first type of 10 mark question you’ll find in section A of the AQA’s second sociology paper (paper 2, topics in sociology). Further, liberation theology was not the way Jesus went about helping the poor, and Jesus is the Great Exemplar for genuine Christians. It's a topic that's been coming up a lot these days in discussions about the new Pope, but I definitely feel like I don't understand it AT ALL. A: There can be only one answer: we can be followers of Jesus and true Christians only by making common cause with the poor and working out the gospel of liberation. The Jesuits have been hugely influential in the development of LT. This is too cynical a view. Liberation Theology is using the word of God(the Scripture) to be seen through the poor who are in danger or in need. Liberation theology does much to bring those issues to the forefront. The Bible should be read and experienced from the perspective of the poor. Love for the poor must be preferential, but not exclusive. John Paul II was, as always, ruled by his faith and belief. The birth of Liberation Theology was the intent of a 1960 super-secret “Party-State Dezinformatsiya Program” approved by Aleksandr Shelepin, … Liberation theology, a term first used in 1973 by Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian Roman Catholic priest, is a school of thought among Latin American Catholics according to which the Gospel of Christ demands that the church concentrate its efforts on liberating the people of the world from poverty and oppression. Nicaragua was a particular hot-spot. The theology of liberation became quite pervasive in the last half of the twentieth century. Though especially discussed within Roman Catholic Theology, Liberation Theology has been an area of much emphasis among both Catholic and Protestant writers since the mid-Twentieth Century. However, it did theology in the only way it knew how, with the “means at its disposal”. For John Paul II, God's essential act was entering into our time and our humanity and transforming ""our history into the history of salvation". Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. 1. Initally considered a social conservative, he became increasingly an outspoken advocate for the poor and oppressed as the security situation in El Salvador deteriorated in the late 1970s. It is in the context of this opposing view to mainstream development economics that we turn again to liberation theology. Archived. Some say that there was a clear political motivation behind the late Pope's actions. And use it to bring those issues to the poverty and the ill-treatment of ordinary people political was. A response to the forefront severity with which he dealt with the and... In changing those structures apply religious faith by aiding the poor our teleological goals manifest certain actions for Christians! 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