LIBERATION LIBERATION THEOLOGYTHEOLOGY

Using the Bible to demand socio-Using the Bible to demand socio-economic justice for the pooreconomic justice for the poorLiberation from injusticeLiberation from injusticeHow far can Christians go in bringing How far can Christians go in bringing about change?about change?

Historical inputs towards L.T.Historical inputs towards L.T.

The “discovery” of the New WorldThe “discovery” of the New World

Spain / Portugal imperial ambitionsSpain / Portugal imperial ambitions

Devastation of indigenous peoplesDevastation of indigenous peoples C.19C.19thth Independence Independence

Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, El Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, El SalvadorSalvador

Neo-colonialism - 1st World / 3rd WorldNeo-colonialism - 1st World / 3rd World

military oligarchies / multinational corps.military oligarchies / multinational corps.

Problems, politics and TheologyProblems, politics and Theology

MarxismMarxism Intellectual interests in societyIntellectual interests in society Revolutionary interests in society: Cuba, Revolutionary interests in society: Cuba,

GuevaraGuevara The Church responds:The Church responds:

Vatican: Vatican 2, 1965Vatican: Vatican 2, 1965 Medellin: Columbia, 1968 CELAM Medellin: Columbia, 1968 CELAM

conferencesconferences Puebla: Mexico, 1979Puebla: Mexico, 1979 Santo Domingo: Mexico, 1993Santo Domingo: Mexico, 1993

Liberation Theology on an Liberation Theology on an intellectual levelintellectual level

Used social science as a tool for understanding Used social science as a tool for understanding problems facing society; particularly..problems facing society; particularly..

Marxism – an active philosophy supporting Marxism – an active philosophy supporting social change and equality, best brought about social change and equality, best brought about through revolution. Social structure and through revolution. Social structure and ownership of resources needs to be levelled out ownership of resources needs to be levelled out and shared amongst all, under control of the and shared amongst all, under control of the state. Critical and makes much use of study to state. Critical and makes much use of study to see what it thinks is really wrong.see what it thinks is really wrong.

The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church was suspicious of the link with atheist Marxism.was suspicious of the link with atheist Marxism.

The contextThe context

1960’s Latin America1960’s Latin America A Response or reaction toA Response or reaction to

PovertyPoverty 33rdrd world = 3 world = 3rdrd class class

Political oppressionPolitical oppression Widening the gapWidening the gap

Realisation that this was not ‘the norm’Realisation that this was not ‘the norm’ ConscientizationConscientization

Western church response vs Western church response vs realityreality

People actedPeople acted Top down reversalTop down reversal Communides Ecclesias de BasesCommunides Ecclesias de Bases

Archbishop RomeroArchbishop Romero "When the church hears the cry of the "When the church hears the cry of the

oppressed it cannot but denounce the oppressed it cannot but denounce the social structures that give rise to and social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises."arises."

ScriptureScripture

Exodus: Liberation of the Israelites Exodus: Liberation of the Israelites Laws: Deut. 24:19-21, Lev. 19:9-10Laws: Deut. 24:19-21, Lev. 19:9-10 Prophets: Isaiah 10, 61 … Amos 5 … Prophets: Isaiah 10, 61 … Amos 5 …

Micah … ZephaniahMicah … Zephaniah Gospels: Matt 5, 25 …Luke 4 …Gospels: Matt 5, 25 …Luke 4 …

Liberationist TheologyLiberationist Theology

Prophetic theologyProphetic theology EschatologicalEschatological Structural sinStructural sin Interpretation reflection praxisInterpretation reflection praxis Eisergesis not exegesisEisergesis not exegesis Transformation and revolutionTransformation and revolution

Aims of Liberation Theology – the mission of Aims of Liberation Theology – the mission of the church in Latin Americathe church in Latin America

These were emphasised by These were emphasised by Gutierrez:Gutierrez:

Political and Social transformation – daily life Political and Social transformation – daily life level of changelevel of change

Emancipation of the poor – specific help to Emancipation of the poor – specific help to the oppressedthe oppressed

Breaking free of selfishness and sin – Breaking free of selfishness and sin – Theological levelTheological level

Ideas developed at Medellin ’68, and Ideas developed at Medellin ’68, and published as “Toward a Theology of published as “Toward a Theology of Liberation” ’71Liberation” ’71

Liberation TheologyLiberation Theology

Impact on MissionImpact on Mission

Lets Go LocalLets Go Local

Impact On Mission in U.K.Impact On Mission in U.K.

Context Context Immediate Response is context is very different in Immediate Response is context is very different in

UK as we have:UK as we have:

Freedom of the pressFreedom of the press Free educationFree education Life without oppressionLife without oppression Religion in Latin America more the Religion in Latin America more the

preserve of the poorpreserve of the poor Religion in U.K. almost entirely the Religion in U.K. almost entirely the

preserve of middle / upper classespreserve of middle / upper classes

Impact On Mission in U.K.Impact On Mission in U.K.

However is this just an excuse ?However is this just an excuse ?

People socially excludedPeople socially excluded People on the margins of societyPeople on the margins of society Growing divide between the have’s & Growing divide between the have’s &

have notshave nots Charity does not solve the cause of the Charity does not solve the cause of the

problemproblem Unfair social & economic orderUnfair social & economic order

Impact On Mission in U.K.Impact On Mission in U.K.

Challenge For Us Challenge For Us

Are we guilty of embracing secularism in Are we guilty of embracing secularism in looking to inculture the gospel?looking to inculture the gospel?

Evolutionary nature of our church is Evolutionary nature of our church is orientated to upholding the status quoorientated to upholding the status quo

Liberation Theology encourages a greater Liberation Theology encourages a greater emphasis on faith in actionemphasis on faith in action

Come on get your hands dirty!!!!Come on get your hands dirty!!!!

… … for he has for he has appointed me to appointed me to preach good news to preach good news to the poorthe poor

He has sent me to He has sent me to proclaim that proclaim that captives will be captives will be releasedreleased

that the that the downtrodden will downtrodden will be freed from their be freed from their oppressorsoppressors

and that the time of the Lord’s favour has comeand that the time of the Lord’s favour has come

that the blind will seethat the blind will see

Luke 4: 18,19Luke 4: 18,19

Written by:Written by: David MouldenDavid Moulden Iorwerth PriceIorwerth Price Rob RyanRob Ryan Nick WithamNick Witham