What Is Liberation Theology?

Liberation theology is a political approach to Christianity which emphasises the plight of those considered oppressed, and the active role Christians can and should play in liberating such people from this oppression. The experiences of the poor, ethnic minorities and women can be emphasised by reading or interpreting the bible from their perspective and with their needs first, or going beyond the text, to argue that Christians must help the marginalised by aligning themselves with certain political movements.

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Firstly, an explanation of liberation theology, and some of its history. Liberation theology originated in the Catholic church in South America in the 1970s. At the time, many peasants and farm workers were being pushed into poverty and oppressive right wing dictatorships were taking over. As a result, liberation theology developed as a direct counter to these events. The plight of the marginalised was placed front and centre, spirituality and the next world arguably took a backseat, which arguably instilled better off christians with a desire to help and improve current conditions of those less fortunate than them. Religious thinkers such as Leonardo Boff and Gustavo Gutierrez placed the Marxist dynamic of the oppressed and oppressor at the heart of Christianity. Jesus’ words against the rich become alive and avowedly political in this ideology. Furthermore, Christian Base Communities appeared helping to empower many people to read and write, thus giving them a more tangible way of coming into contact with Christianity. Here we can see some of Liberation theology’s utility, in that it brings the focus of the Church away from solely eternal salvation to the more pressing necessity of earthly liberation of the poor from oppression and suffering. However, it is also in these earthly concerns that Liberation Theology receives criticism.

In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II released a series of edicts declaring that the role of the church for him, was in bringing people into closer contact with God, helping the poor was important, but not if that required allying Christianity to revolutionaries and extreme ideologies. In this the Pope channelled mainstream Catholicism’s main critique of Liberation Theology, that it reflects both a politicisation of Christianity and a secularisation of it. What does this mean? In Liberation theology, accepting Marx’s dynamic of Oppressed vs Oppressor is paramount, making it arguably on a par with such fundamental christian beliefs as belief in the resurrection or salvation through faith. Supporters of liberation theology would argue however, that this use of marxism does not make Liberation Theology a kind of religious Marxism, instead they would argue that they use Marx’s dynamic of oppressor and oppressed to illuminate passages of the Bible and improve both their understanding and to then better help others in line with Christ’s teachings. Along with this supposed politicisation, as we have already heard, Liberation theology also receives criticism for its preoccupation with earthly matters as opposed to spirituality or the hope of a future afterlife. This is called secularisation. Yet again, supporters of liberation theology might argue that through their tangible measures they have made the church more impactful in people’s lives, as it helps the poor to read and write, and backs them on political issues.

To conclude, Liberation Theology is a political approach to Christianity, which attempts to frame the Bible and Christians’ role through the lens of the plight of those considered oppressed, such as ethnic minorities, women and the poor. The approach was particularly popular in the catholic church in south america in the 1970s, partly due to the torrid socio-economic conditions of many people at the time. Liberation Theology was, however, the target of much criticism from the Catholic Church in Europe, because of its perceived politicisation of Christianity, and reorientation of the Bible and a Christian’s life onto secular, earthly matters. Proponents of Liberation Theology would argue that the churches’ work in areas such as education gave it a direct role in people’s lives, thus strengthening the relationship between it and the community. They would also argue that Liberation Theology is no less political than other interpretative structures that already exist within Christianity.

[Armee]

People should really be studying Social Doctrine of the Church and Catholic Bioethics.

[watcherwlc]

Why is there background music? It's distracting.

[jamesmitch]

Liberation theology is probably the only form of christianity that I respect.

they're true christians who see solidarity not only with the poor but other christians as well.

unlike the materialistic shit we have in this country.

[watcherwlc]

The politicization of Christianity in the so-called Christian so-called Right in the USA currently is a problem too.

[UwgAllDay]

the rhumbnail is incredibly problematic and i like it very much. Jesus help me haha

[robertortiz-wilson]

Well done summary! It was definitely an infiltration…

[wakeUPdummies]

Funny. 11year olds must think this is deep.