liberation theology

• Liberation theology, Gutiérrez: oppressed masses = “hombres cactus”, non-humans as exploitation takes away their humanity
• Preferential option for the poor


  Being on the side of the poor and seeing from the oppressed's view
• Gustavo Gutiérrezon liberation theology

  • Christians' first duty is to fight against oppression - theology is second and reflects this
  • Praxis (action) - theology is something to be done, not learnt
  • Oppressed masses = “hombres cactus”, non-humans; exploitation takes away their humanity
  • Liberation = political, historical liberation + liberation from sin
• Ratzinger's criticism of liberation theology

  • LT is too simplistic → reduces salvation to just worldly affair
  • “Meek will inherit the earth” - focus on salvation in afterlife; if you’re good despite difficulties, you’ll have eternal happiness + peace with God in heaven
• Augustine's criticism of liberation theology

  We can’t bring salvation on earth as humans flawed - only God can by his grace
• Pope John Paul II's criticism of liberation theology

  • Should focus on spiritual poverty, not economic poverty
  • solution is charity, not political action
  • LT ignores spirituality of Church by using atheist Marxism to support
• Bible quote in support of LT/BT:

  Jesus came "to proclaim good news to the poor, [...] to set the oppressed free" (Luke)
• Bible quote against LT:

  “My kingdom is not of this world” (John) - Jesus not involved in politics
• Bible quote against LT:

  “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat [...] life is more than food” (Luke)
• Give a response to Pope John Paul II's criticism of LT:

  solution to poverty is charity, not political action

  Charity not enough to address causes of poverty
• give a response to Pope JPII + Ratzinger's criticism of LT:

  focus on spiritual poverty, not economic poverty

  Gutiérrez: need to address economic poverty before spiritual as it hinders spiritual liberation
• Marx: religion is the "opium" of the ppl as it distracts from oppression
• Bible quote for LT/BT, Jesus liberate poor: "he has brought down the mighty from their seats and has exalted the humble" (Luke)