RS a level DCT - liberation theology

ao1 and ao2 LT and marxism

quote from Brazilian Archbishop Camara about questioning sinful systems

“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”

define liberation theology

a radical school of Christian thought which prioritises orthopraxis over orthodoxy and interprets Christianity as primarily a response to poverty

what are the three key points/teachings in this topic

Marxism on alienation and exploitation

Liberation Theology’s use of Marxist analysis of ‘structural’ causes of sin

Liberation Theology’s teaching of the ‘preferential option for the poor’

define the Marxist ideas of alienation and exploitation

alienation occurs when humans are dehumanised and unable to live fulfilling lives; and exploitation occurs when humans are treated as objects and used as a means to an end

how does Liberation Theology use Marxist analysis

to analyse the “structural” causes of social sin that result in injustice, including: capitalism, and institutions

define the “preferential option for the poor”

the view that the gospel demands Christians give priority to the poor and act in solidarity with them, involving orthopraxis before orthodoxy

do LT and Marxism agree on human nature

yes, they both think it’s intrinsically good

difference between LT and marxism in what causes evil and inequality

sin vs greed

3 criticisms of LT by Pope John Paul II about gospel and salvation

image of Jesus as political revolutionary inconsistent with doctrine

social action should be in the image of the gospel

the oppressed are raised by salvation

why did Pope John Paul II disagree with LT’s focus on material poverty

Christianity should be more concerned with spiritual poverty

3 criticisms from Pope Benedict XVI on LT’s engagement with Marxism

Marxism is inherently anti-Christian so the church must find its own way of helping the poor

Christian liberation is primarily liberation from sin not poverty

only God can ultimately remove suffering

did Pope Francis I support or criticize LT? Why?

support

personally concerned with poverty, he was Latin American, supported preferential option for the poor

quote from Liberation Theologian Gutierrez about Gods primary role as a liberator

“the God of Exodus is the God of history and of political liberation more than he is the God of nature”

5 examples of secular ideologies the church may or may not have to engage with in modern times

feminism, utilitarianism, relativism, colonialism, pluralism

2 reasons why Christianity should engage with secular ideologies

needs to engage with real and present world

draws attention to relevant aspects of theology

2 reasons why Christianity should not engage with secular ideologies

may forget primary aspects of religion like faith and the bible

atheist secular ideologies often reject religion

how can Christians understand injustice and corruption in the world, as opposed to the Marxist view of class struggle

as a result of original sin

3 examples of social issues both Marxism and Christianity can address

low education rates, poverty, social inequality

3 ways Christianity may tackle social issues

evangelism, charity, prayer

how does Marxism tackle social issues

revolution, a new system

quote from ‘Introducing Liberation Theology’ by Boff and Boff demonstrating the preferential option for the poor

“God is especially close to those who are oppressed”

quote from Matthew 5:3 suggesting the poor are spiritually richer than the rich

“blessed are the poor in spirit”

how can the idea of preferential option for the poor and universalizability of Christianity be reconciled

expanding the definition of “poverty” to be both material and spiritual

2 criticisms from John Paul II on LT regarding the role of the church

turns the church into a secular political institution

church’s job is to bring people into personal contact with God

romans 2:8 on Jesus as a liberator

“the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death”

acts 13:39 on Jesus as a liberator

“through him everyone who believes is freed from all things”

how does Marx describe religion

“the sigh of the oppressed” and “the opiate of the people”

quote from Gutierrez showing him to be radically marxist

“the denunciation of injustice implies the rejection of the use of Christianity to legitimise the established order”

who argues that Jesus would’ve fought for Latin American liberation if he was alive

Restreppo

does Marx argue God is a source of alienation

yes

who does Marx classify as the bourgeoisie

the owners of capital/the means by which wealth is created e.g. factory owners

who does Marx classify as the proletariat

everyone who doesn’t own the means of wealth/production

Marx’s 4 aspects of alienation

proletariat are alienated from the products of their labour

proletariat are alienated from the process of labour, making it unfulfilling

proletariat are alienated from their “species-being”/human nature

proletariat are alienated from each other

argument from Mill supporting that Christianity is a source of control

Christian morality is a doctrine of “passive obedience” which makes people submissive to authority and more likely to endure mistreatment

what is praxis

understanding a situation and then working to change it

central to Marxism

what is hermeneutic of suspicion

the process of interpreting the bible through new lenses, challenging tradition

e.g. LT through the lens of economic motivations

Mark 2:17

“I have not come to call the righteous, but the sick”