Liberation theology

• Many impoverished people were…?


  Under the control of oppressive governments, workers were alienated and capitalism and industrialisation were prioritised
• what did Gutierrez believe?

  that Jesus is the one true teacher, but that Marxism was an ‘instrument‘ that helps the methodology of liberation theology
• Gutierrez believed that Christianity must not…?

  stand back in the force of social injustice
• Gutierrez believed that structural inequality in society leads to what?

  structural sin
• liberation theologians believed that the ‘kingdom of god’ is NOT?

  an eschatological hope, but an earthly ‘call to action’ - Christianity is about social justice and social revolution
• Jesus was a political revolutionary, a social liberation and so…?

  liberation theologians believe that it is the duty of Christian’s today to follow in his footsteps
• what did Jesus want to bring about?

  a transformation of society, and showed a ‘preferential option for the poor‘ - this is seen in the parable of the sheep and the goats
• what ones the gospel demand?

  that Christian’s give priority to/solidarity with the poor
• justification for giving priority to the poor derived from the gospels…?

  1. god is a living god who seeks justice for his people
  2. jesus worked for the poor
  3. we will be judged based on our response to the poor
  4. the first apostles looked after the poor
  5. Christian’s should work for the common good and try to transform society
• Christians must not stand by when…?

  presented with injustice, they should prioritise action
• What is orthopraxis?

  Starts with living among the poor, in solidarity, visiting and caring for them - feeding the hungry should be prioritise over believing in doctrines
• the kingdom of god must be…?

  brought about on earth for those who are alienated and living in poverty
• for liberation theologians, what was one role of the church?

  to educate people to recognise the difference between their own lies and real justice as described in the gospel, and to help them find ways to challenge the forces that oppress them
• the pope rejected liberation theology, what did he say?

  ‘this conception of Christ as a political figure, a revolutionary, as the subversive of Nazareth does not tally with the churchs catechism‘
• many believe liberation theology was…?

  too political, and that the church should transcend politics, it focused too much on the temporal, rather than the external
• a fundamental split developed concerning the role of the church:

  1. liberationists wanted to change society to promote justice has give power to the poor and powerless. It saw this as the natural and practical application of the teaching of Jesus
  2. traditionalists believed that the rivalry concern of the church was to support the poor by offering spiritual aid to individuals
• What is liberation theology based on?

  A marxist view of society, christian belief and practice should focus on ‘liberating’ the poor from oppression and poverty e.g. through social and political change
• with examples of liberationists, what do they do?

  they use their power in the church to change society
• who is Oscar Romero and what did he do?

  a Roman Catholic archbishop, he became a vocal critic of the violent activities of government forces during El Salvador’s civil conflict - he advocated for human rights and social justice, focusing on the fight of the marginalised. his outspoken stance led to his assassination in 1980
• martin Luther king (example of a liberationist)…?

  he was a pivotal leader in the American civil rights movement and he advocated for non violent resistance against racial injustice and he led peaceful protests
• Lester Roloff (example of a liberationist)…?

  a preacher known for his evangelistic work and the establishment of teen homes across the American South, he operated homes for troubled youth and his work in evangelism and his commitment to helping those in need left a lasting impact
• Jesse Jackson (example of a liberationist)…?

  he began his activism in the 1960s, he founded organisations that merged to form the rainbow coalition, advocating for social justice and economic opportunity