Patton Liberation Theology

Map Report Liberation Theology Matt Patton 4/17/14 Context: Liberation Theology was a Christian policitcal movement that began in Latin America in the 1950's and 60's. The theology was officially opposed by the catholic church through the leadership of Pope Paul VI. Vatican II did take a more socially active stance on poverty in the world, however their position was still very far from the radicalism of Liberation Theology. The man who coined the term and was it's primary advocate was a Peruvian Priest named Gustavo Gutierrez who wrote "A Theology of Liberation" in 1971. It's most vocal detractors call the movement a kind of "Christian Marxism." Impact: The Impact tends to be two fold. On the one hand people through the theology have found new energy to care for social justice. In it's most extreme cases it has been used to legitimize social revolution. If Jesus advocated overturning the esablished order, it makes sense to continue in that legacy as a kind of revolutionary. Summarize: Liberation theology argues that one of Jesus's primary purposes in coming to earth was to advocate for the poor and oppressed by opposing the social evils that oppessed them. In Liberation theology the poverty is caused by sin, but not necessarily personal sin but societal sin. It's primary proof text are those that speak of Jesus not coming to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 24:24 Quote: God is disclosed in the historical ‘’praxis’’ of liberation. It is the situation, and our passionate and reflective involvement in it, which mediates the Word of God. Today that Word is mediated through the cries of the poor and the oppressed.[15] -Richard McBrien History is the scene of the revelation God makes of the mystery of his person. His word reaches us in the measure of our involvement in the evolution of history.[16] -Gustavo Gutierrez Evaluation: While it is true that Jesus turned the established worldy order on it's head, the movement tends to overlook Jesus's mission in dealing with person sin. It also tend to think of social problems as having systemic causes rather than at the level of human nature. It assumes that a change of political power from the rich to the poor can solve societal evil rather than through the redemptive power of the gospel. Opponents: It's primary opponents have been Alfonso Trujillo as well as Pope John Paul II. Resources: Wikipedia has a very helpful article on liberation theology. You might also find this site very helpful as well. http://www.landreform.org/boff2.htm