Traditional Theology Liberation Theology

• Who • Gustavo Gutierrez

– St. Augustine
• Oscar Romero
-- St. Thomas Aquinas • poor peasants
-- Karl Rahner, S.J.
Traditional Theology Liberation Theology

• Where: • Where:
– Rome, Paris, etc. (very – Latin America
Eurocentric) • from the “Underside of
History” (ie., the losers
of history, the poor and
oppressed)
Traditional Theology
• Parish-
– in the United States, for
example, parishes are
500-1200 families
large.
Liberation Theology
• Base Christian
Communities
– 10 - 30 people who
come together to study
the Bible and apply it to
their lives
Traditional Theology Liberation Theology

• How: • Praxis
How: - the oscillation
– traditional theology between action
– the “first and
act” of
involves research, reflection (between
liberation theology is
debate, prayer. It is service and to the
commitment
very scholarly and poor.
prayer/study)
reasonable.
Because
Only when the you
Biblelive
waswith
written
the
by
poorthewill
poorscripture
in an oppressed
come alive.
situation
Why? (e.g., Roman persecution)
Only by living their life can one
comprehend the Bible’s full
meaning.
 The doctrines, dogmas,
Traditional Theology
theology. The Liberation Theology
content

• What: • What:
– Sin:
• an intentional act of
commission or
omission that harms
others, ourselves, or our
relationship with God.
• Very personal and
individual
– Sin:
• Social Sin: Whenever
we participate in
societal structures or
policies that harm
others (e.g., racism,
economic exploitation),
we commit a sin.
• Can be very communal
Traditional Theology Liberation Theology
i s the
W hat of
• What (#2) in g • What (#2)
mean ss? Why
– Cross ro ? – Cross
th Jesus die
e c
diddied
“Glory” - Jesus
●
• “Tragedy” - Jesus
stood up for the truth
for us.
Jesus suffered
and, as a result, was
and died as a sacrifice executed by the
to open the gates of heaven.
religious and political
authorities.
Jesus
We also are to be out-
died
spoken and active against
before us.
injustice even if it means
ridicule and persecution.
Traditional Theology Liberation Theology

• What (#3) • What (#3)

– Salvation – Salvation
• to save peoples’ souls • to save peoples’ souls
so they can go to and bodies.
heaven. • Liberate them from
• Liberate them from sin unjust economic
and eternal death. systems and premature
death.

“Preferential Option
for the Poor”
 Pro’s and Con’s of Liberation Theology
• Justified Critique of
Liberation Theology
– some liberation theologians
(using the logic of the“just
war teachings” of the
Church) have advocated
violence to bring about
justice.
– Pope John Paul II has
condemned violence as a
means of liberation.
• Unjustified Critique of
Liberation Theology
– liberation theologians are
accused of being Marxist
– They use some Marxist terms
(e.g., “class struggle, praxis”)
because it helps them name
their economic reality which
is similar to 19th cent.
Europe.