Practical/Performative Dimension of Faith – Key Notes

Praxis and Faith

• Praxis: faith expressed as transformative action
  • Cieszkowski – action aimed at changing society
  • Marx – activity whereby humans change the world and themselves
  • Dulles / Gutiérrez – “historical praxis of liberation”; commitment to social change that overcomes alienation

See–Judge–Act Framework

• Triple process to link faith and social transformation
  • SEE – rigorous social analysis
  • JUDGE – reflect with Scripture & Catholic Social Teaching (CST)
  • ACT – concrete plans for liberation / justice

Stage 1 : SEE (Social Analysis)

• No neutral stance; bias is unavoidable ⇒ opt for the oppressed
• Starting point: the poor (“where the pain is”)
• View "from below" reveals a world of conflict & structural sin
• Task: expose invisible oppressive systems (“make the unnoticed noticed”)

Stage 2 : JUDGE / DISCERN

Scripture Lens

• Select passages that address the cause of poverty & Jesus’ liberating response—not merely presence of poor characters
• Read with complementary data (e.g., economics) for fuller insight

Catholic Social Teaching Principles

• Respect for Human Dignity – every person bears God’s image
• Universal Destination of Goods – creation meant for all
• Common Good – social conditions enabling full human flourishing
• Solidarity – “inescapable network of mutuality”; treat each as “another self”
• Subsidiarity – decisions at lowest effective level; higher bodies support, not replace
• Option for the Poor – moral priority to society’s most vulnerable
• Stewardship & Care for Creation – responsible, ethical use of the earth

Stage 3 : ACT (Commitment)

• Outline of possible actions
  • $1$ Respect people’s own process
  • $2$ Education as liberation
  • $3$ Empower local leaders
  • $4$ Mobilize collective action
  • $5$ Networking & collaboration
  • $6$ Prayer & celebration

Quick Template : Applying to Poverty

• SEE – gather economic data; map structural barriers
• JUDGE – choose liberating Gospel text; apply CST (e.g., Option for the Poor, Common Good)
• ACT – design one or more of the six action lines to confront or transform the identified injustice