Libertarian theology and Marx

• exploitation

  treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work or resources,treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work or resources
• alienation 


  process of becoming detached or isolated
• capitalism

  economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit, in contrast with communism where trade and industry is controlled by the state
• Conscientisation

  process by which a person becomes conscious of the power structures in society
• basic Christian communities

  Christian groups that gather together to try to directly resolve difficulties in their lives
• Structural sin

  idea that sin is not just personal action but something that can be brought about through unjust organisations and social structures
• Preferential option for the poor

  idea that Jesus Christ stood with the poor and oppressed, and that the Church should focus on the poor and oppressed and stand in solidarity with them
• liberation theology

  a theology applied to the core concerns of marginalized communities in need of social, political, or economic equality and justice
• What is liberation theology:

  • began in 1964 - theological movement started by young Catholic theologians in Brazil and pledged themselves to finding the truth of the Christian message in the poverty of Brazil
  • 2 key leaders - Jon Sobrino and Gustavo Gutierrez
  • invented 'conscientisation' - describe when a person became conscious of the power structures in their consciousness
  • education could liberate people (Friere) - more than moving education
  • theological explanation usually first then action == Christians reflect critically on their life experience
• Liberation theology: pt2

  • kingdom of God central belief for liberation theology
  • kingdom of God must be hoped for -- worked for in this world
  • Christians must destroy the roots of exploitation and oppression --> bring peace and justice
  • Gutierrez - liberation happens in 2 ways
• Gutierrez and liberation:

  1. social and economic liberation - people must act to bring this about
  2. liberation from sin - reconciled with God and with God's brothers and sisters

  Both methods are essential - both are needed. This means that the political liberation of people is the work of salvation. Sin is not just personal and is historical + collective - within social structure
• Liberation Theology: pt3

  • disagree if physical or spiritual liberation should come first
  • Segundo - 'liberation is the first and foremost liberation from the radical slavery of sin' WHEREAS
  • Gutierrez - emphasis on earthly liberation as seen with biblical texts
  • it is the theology of hope = emerged from Latin America in the 1960s -- people were very poor -- Christians formed discussion groups
• Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

  Matthew 5:3 - liberation theology, the Beatitudes - a kind of road map to liberation
• Let my people go so that they can worship me

  Exodus 9:1 - liberation theology --> Liberation of the people of Israel from oppression
• For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life and I will raise them up at the last day

  John 6:40 - Liberation Theology -- Resurrection is the ultimate form of liberation
• Liberation Theology: pt4

  • liberation theology is a theology of hope
  • Bible passages are not just metaphors for what will happen - parables of the struggle for liberation of the poor
  • emerged in Latin America in the 1960s - corrupt governments
  • liberation is part of God's continuing work work of creating and sustaining the world
  • people of God were liberated in the Bible
• Let my people go so they can worship me

  Exodus 9:1
• Blessed are the poor in spirit for their's is the kingdom of heaven

  Matthew 5: 1 - 12
• Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of heaven

  Luke 6:20
• How hard is it to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God

  Mark 10:21 - 25
• When I give food to the poor they call me a Saint. When I ask why the poor have no food they call me communist

  Dom Helder Camara - Brazilian Archbishop
• In Luke 4:17-21, what scripture does Jesus read from?

  Isaiah 6
• Today this scripture is fulfilled -- he is here to save the oppressed

  Luke 4: 17 -21
• Orthopraxy

  right action comes before
• orthodoxy

  right belief
• Matthew 25: 31 - 46

  Parable of the sheep and the goats
• Oscar Romero and Liberation theology:

  • according to Cardinal Maradiaga, there were 2 types of Liberation Theology
  • marxism -- led to armed uprising
  • liberation with politics
  • civil war and death stemmed from the Marxist beliefs
  • according to Marafiga - the root of Liberation theology was Jesus
  • Oscar Romero's message is still alive as his message continues to live on with the people
• Recalling liberation theology:

  • Within Mass during this time, Jesus was referred to as 'Comrade'
  • the 2nd Vatican council meant that the priests had to face the congregation
  • Rev Miguel Brockman said that Jesus message was
  • 100% Political
  • antin imperial and a revolutionist
  • Brockman said that God and his conscience was more important than the pope
  • Brockmann was suspended from the priest hood as he held a position of political importance --- a cabinet member
  • Romero was beatificated by the Pope as the Pope was Latin American
  • Archbishop of Managua rejects the idea of the church siding with the rich and the powerful over the poor
  • Michele Najlis - LT is not relevant now as it was a product of its time
• Liberation theology stands for

  totally changing the study of theology.

  1964 - theologians meeting in Brazil pledged to the truth of Christ's message in poverty of the poor in south america
• Orthopraxy

  right action comes before belief
• Orthodoxy

  right belief comes before right action
• Paulo Friere Brazilian (Brazilian educator and philosopher)

  • Pedagogy of the oppressed - 1970
  • Education should lead to a greater awareness that leads to positive action for change and development
  • came up with conscientisation - people become conscience of the power structures in society
  • felt by educating people you didn't just transfer information to the next generation but enabled people to transform society
• Who wrote Pedagogy of the oppressed 1970?

  Paulo Friere
• Kingdom of God:

  • something on earth that must be hoped for and worked for in this world
  • Christians must destroy the roots of exploitation and oppression by working for peace and justice here on earth
  • LT offers hope to the poor and the oppressed
• The Kingdom of God belongs to the poor and the rich have no part in it

  Mark 10 23 -25
• Love of money is the root of all evil

  1 Timothy 6:10
• We can't serve God and Money

  Luke 16:13
• The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”


  Luke 17:20-21
• Who was Gustavo Gutierrez

  Peruvian Dominican Priest
• Gutierrez's teaching:

  • social and economic liberation first
  • HUMANS CAUSED POVERTY AND CAN SOLVE IT
  • people must take responsibility for liberation from poverty and work to create it
  • then they must work for liberty from sin but they must work for both
  • poverty may lead to an increase in sin = social sin, so it must be defeated for sin to be defeated
  • sin is not just personal, it can be historical and social