12: Liberation Theology and Marx
Traditional The academic study of the nature of God and religious beliefs
theology
Liberation Late 20th-century theological movement in Latin America, which originated in Roman
Theology Catholicism. It starts with action rather than belief where Christian faith is applied. It is a
response to poverty and other examples of exploitation/alienation. Bring about the
kingdom of God and salvation are not just events after death. It is a theology of hope.
The formed discussion groups called basic Christian communities where they searched
for practical solutions supported in the Bible. It grew at a time when Latin America was a
key battleground in the cold war between capitalism and communism. It was an
undeveloped part of the world where many lived in poverty. The ideological battle
impacted elections and caused violence revolution. L.T argued that the purpose of
development is not to increase wealth, but increase human wellbeing
Orthodoxy Right belief
Orthopraxy Right practice
Orthodoxy vs. Jesus responded with action first by helping those in need. Theology needs to be both
Orthopraxy academic and active; Christians must act out their faith to liberate of set oppressed
people free. LT involves transforming society, sometimes taking measures that not
everyone would agree with. True orthodoxy is important because if the Bible studies
Christians can come to the conclusion that they will serve the poor if they truly love God.
Orthodoxy should lead to orthopraxy. However, if L.T start from action, it cannot
determine which actions are right/wrong
Paulo Freire Influenced L.T. In Pedagogy of the oppressed, he invented the term 'conscientisation' to
describe the movement when a person becomes conscious of the power structures of
society. He believed education should liberate people by raising their consciousness and
using education to transform society. Orthopraxy should come before orthodoxy
The Kingdom LT attempts to bring it into the world. It is the rule of God on earth which God is put at the
of God centre of people's lives, following him in practice. It is not heaven/the afterlife. It is
something that must be hoped for and worked for in this world. Christians must bring
about the kingdom of God by helping those in need, sharing wealth, destroying the
roots of exploitation and oppression. It implies a real revolution, not just a revolution in
word and thought
Gutierrez Believed liberation needs to happen on an earthly and spiritual level. He believed that
both methods of liberation of essential. Sin is not just personal, it is historical and
collective because it is found in the social structures and institutions that harm people
Earthly Social and economic liberation. Poverty and oppression are created by humans and
liberation must be remedied by them
Spiritual Liberation from sin. People are reconciled with God and all their brothers and sisters in
Liberation Christ
Bible There are many passages in the Bible that support social action and in the NT partially,
Jesus is a social activist e.g. standing up for the poor, the oppressed, criticising those who
are wealthy and those who ignore people in need. However, it is not entirely Biblical
because it is also influenced by Marx and other left-wing theologians who believe
capitalism gets in the way of bringing the Kingdom of God
Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of God
Luke 1:51-53 "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted the humble. He has filled
the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty"
Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers
and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
Karl Marx Influenced L.T. He believed when human society reached a point where it was able to
produce a surplus, it began to fracture. Class divisions emerged between those who
controlled the means of production and those who don't
Historical He believed the world was progressing through stages, with each system being
Materialism challenged and eventually replaced. He believed an economic system which included
difference classes of people would always have problems and eventually be
overthrown
Historical They agree that economic concerns need to be addressed if society is to progress. They
Materialism - agree with his approach in which you reach conclusions by considering opposing ideas
LT an reasoning which is best
Traditional The academic study of the nature of God and religious beliefs
theology
Liberation Late 20th-century theological movement in Latin America, which originated in Roman
Theology Catholicism. It starts with action rather than belief where Christian faith is applied. It is a
response to poverty and other examples of exploitation/alienation. Bring about the
kingdom of God and salvation are not just events after death. It is a theology of hope.
The formed discussion groups called basic Christian communities where they searched
for practical solutions supported in the Bible. It grew at a time when Latin America was a
key battleground in the cold war between capitalism and communism. It was an
undeveloped part of the world where many lived in poverty. The ideological battle
impacted elections and caused violence revolution. L.T argued that the purpose of
development is not to increase wealth, but increase human wellbeing
Orthodoxy Right belief
Orthopraxy Right practice
Orthodoxy vs. Jesus responded with action first by helping those in need. Theology needs to be both
Orthopraxy academic and active; Christians must act out their faith to liberate of set oppressed
people free. LT involves transforming society, sometimes taking measures that not
everyone would agree with. True orthodoxy is important because if the Bible studies
Christians can come to the conclusion that they will serve the poor if they truly love God.
Orthodoxy should lead to orthopraxy. However, if L.T start from action, it cannot
determine which actions are right/wrong
Paulo Freire Influenced L.T. In Pedagogy of the oppressed, he invented the term 'conscientisation' to
describe the movement when a person becomes conscious of the power structures of
society. He believed education should liberate people by raising their consciousness and
using education to transform society. Orthopraxy should come before orthodoxy
The Kingdom LT attempts to bring it into the world. It is the rule of God on earth which God is put at the
of God centre of people's lives, following him in practice. It is not heaven/the afterlife. It is
something that must be hoped for and worked for in this world. Christians must bring
about the kingdom of God by helping those in need, sharing wealth, destroying the
roots of exploitation and oppression. It implies a real revolution, not just a revolution in
word and thought
Gutierrez Believed liberation needs to happen on an earthly and spiritual level. He believed that
both methods of liberation of essential. Sin is not just personal, it is historical and
collective because it is found in the social structures and institutions that harm people
Earthly Social and economic liberation. Poverty and oppression are created by humans and
liberation must be remedied by them
Spiritual Liberation from sin. People are reconciled with God and all their brothers and sisters in
Liberation Christ
Bible There are many passages in the Bible that support social action and in the NT partially,
Jesus is a social activist e.g. standing up for the poor, the oppressed, criticising those who
are wealthy and those who ignore people in need. However, it is not entirely Biblical
because it is also influenced by Marx and other left-wing theologians who believe
capitalism gets in the way of bringing the Kingdom of God
Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of God
Luke 1:51-53 "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted the humble. He has filled
the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty"
Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers
and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
Karl Marx Influenced L.T. He believed when human society reached a point where it was able to
produce a surplus, it began to fracture. Class divisions emerged between those who
controlled the means of production and those who don't
Historical He believed the world was progressing through stages, with each system being
Materialism challenged and eventually replaced. He believed an economic system which included
difference classes of people would always have problems and eventually be
overthrown
Historical They agree that economic concerns need to be addressed if society is to progress. They
Materialism - agree with his approach in which you reach conclusions by considering opposing ideas
LT an reasoning which is best
