A) An idea with good intentions that went wrong
B) A great idea we all should embrace
C) A terrible idea to begin with
Liberation Theology began by the Catholic church in Latin American countries. It was fueled by theories like Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and initially the idea was "feed and clothe the poor, then preach the gospel to them."
After a while it became a drive for political activism and focused on painting Christ as the great liberator of the poor. It rejected capitalism and linked Christianity with socialism.
2007-12-03 18:30:38 · 9 answers · asked by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It did not begin in Latin America but with the "social gospel movement" in the 1880's (Noll 304) and included such organizations as the Salvation Army. Also Walter Rauschenbusch's work in New York City.
However, if you read the works of Gustavo Gutierrez and Leonardo Boff and others you will learn of the Latin American version of Liberation Theology.
It is easy for us to dismiss out of hand these philosophies that embrace Marxism and blend it with Christianity. However, we have never known suffering and poverty like these people.
The maxim of "you can't share the gospel with someone who is starving" carries much weight when you carefully consider it.
I am not sure what I feel about it but we must at the very least know why it has come about and wrestle with the problem of such poverty before we cast stones at their theology.
So, I will say that it is an idea which must be considered in context and weighed against scripture. There may be elements to embrace fully and others that must be rejected as not biblical.
2007-12-03 18:56:49 · answer #1 · answered by δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have to go with A & B. If someone is hungry and poor why would we not feed and clothe them. To a certain extent what is wrong with rather that telling the people the Gospel we also show them the love of God first, then tell it to them. Parts of it seem to make a great deal of sense to me. Most of these types of things come about because of a lack of certain aspects in other areas. Even if you never got a good opportunity to share the Gospel, the fact that they are helping others shows they are doing more than others.
2007-12-05 02:37:18 · answer #2 · answered by Jason 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm gonna go with a mix of A & B. I think Jesus' gospel is more aligned with principles of feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, etc. Any time you try to implement that in the realm of politics, you're going to get something that is at least partially socialist. Is that bad? Liberation theology goes astray sometimes in not recognizing the apolitical nature of Christ, and the radical nonviolence of his life. The Kingdom of God was never about swords and peace through victory; that's the Kingdom of Rome.
Peace to you.
2007-12-04 02:40:40 · answer #3 · answered by Orpheus Rising 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
C) A terrible idea to begin with
Liberation theology painted Jesus Christ as a revolutionary, not a Savior. It focused exclusively on earthly needs and neglected the eternal soul. It's all well and good to take care of the earthly needs of our poor brethren, and we should, but that should not be the only focus. Eventually it linked up with some pretty unsavory characters who were ready to violently take from the rich and give to the poor. You will know them by their fruits.
2007-12-04 02:40:38 · answer #4 · answered by Northstar 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
A, is the best answer. All Christian missions should keep the Gospel as it's #1 focus and Liberation lost it's way when it stopped being about the Gospel. Not only did people not get saved, they also didn't get fed.
2007-12-04 08:22:09 · answer #5 · answered by HAND 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christianizing socialism or socializing Christianity both lead to watered down, ineffective Christianity, where what dominates is the worldly doctrine that was tried to be mixed into Christianity.
Error isn't the opposite of truth, it's anything less than the whole truth.
2007-12-04 02:40:21 · answer #6 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about liberation theology per se, but I know the sermon on the mount influenced me more than anything else to become a liberal...
Can't figure that one out myself...I'm very socialistic imo...
2007-12-04 02:37:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
socialism,bad.jesus good.
seriously though socialim is a concept that has no application in reality as it asks each to contribute according to ability and to each disperse by virtue of need,in practice you end up with a lot of tired ,dissillusioned poor ,producers ,and a lot of fat needy bastards.
2007-12-05 01:17:33 · answer #8 · answered by joe c 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ideas are the special reason for progression.
2007-12-04 21:31:24 · answer #9 · answered by Ace of Spades 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋