Essay on Liberation Theology in Latin America - 1734 Words

The populist governments, seen in the 1950’s and 1960’s in South America, spurred industrial growth and a sense of â€Å"consciousness† amongst the inhabitants of the Latin American countries. The industrial growth greatly benefited the middle-class and the working-class; however, the poor were driven into shantytowns and rural areas. To illustrate the great poverty of this time in Latin America, people living in â€Å"shantytowns† resided in vast settlements built of cardboard and other available materials such as metal and sheets of plastic. These â€Å"towns† frequently lacked proper sanitation. One could imagine how living in these shantytowns would degrade the human spirit and foster a sense of worthlessness. The abrupt shift in the social classes†¦show more content†¦A series of crucial literature was produced between 1959 and 1964 in Brazil; the literature intertwined Christian principles, social and liberal sciences, and stressed t he need for active engagement in the world in relation to justice for those oppressed. In Bogotà ¡, Colombia the first Liberation Theology-based congregations were held in March of 1970 and July of 1971 (Introducing Liberation Theology). Gustavo Gutierrez was to be credited with the foundation of Liberation Theology. Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian Theologian, is credited for the foundation of Liberation Theology. He was the author of A Theology of Liberation, which was published in 1971 during the beginning stages of Liberation Theology. The text heavily emphasized God’s preference of those who are oppressed and challenged scholars to review their preconceived notions on scripture study. In addition, A Theology of Liberation made religion more accessible and meaningful to those who faced oppression or poverty (Gustavo Gutierrez and the Preferential Option for the Poor). In Liberation Theology, according to Gutierrez, Liberation Theologians take upon a view from those individuals who are on the lower end of the social and economical ladder. Gutierrez states Liberationists must start at â€Å"praxis†. The term â€Å"praxis† refers toShow MoreRelatedLiberation Theology Essay865 Words   |  4 PagesJeremy Partin I. Title Page II. Thesis Page III. Introduction Liberation theology in Latin America was first introduced in the late 1960’s, although it became famous after the writing of Gustavo Gutierrez. The roots of liberation theology can be traced back to Europe because Catholic priests were sent there to go to school. It was there where they became radicalized and sent back to Latin America. This radicalization led many to start thinking differently, including Gutierrez. He and othersRead MoreLiberation Theology Essay1157 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction According to Enns (2008), liberation theology attempts to infer the holy writ through the plight of the poor. This movement originated from South America in the early 1950s when Marxism was the most popular theory among the poor. It was a response to the ill-treatment and poverty facing the ordinary people. It dealt with the issue of distribution of wealth among people in order to upgrade the economic status in life. This movement had strong Romanian Catholic roots bolstered in ColombiaRead MoreLiberation Theology And The Cultural Destruction Of Third World Countries927 Words   |  4 Pagesdestruction of third world countries, liberation theology is a method of Catholic teaching in which people are liberated from their oppressors. Liberation theology’s roots stem in Latin America, where there was need for salvation and redemption of the faith. 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Liberation theology applies modern happenings to theRead MoreEssay about Liberation Theology796 Words   |  4 PagesLiberation Theology I see [liberation theology] as a theology of the people, rather than of professional theologians; rising out of the cries of the oppressed; refined in the experience of those who may not even be able to read and write; clarified in thousands of base communities; embodied in lives that risk everything to be faithful to the good news that God hears their cry, sides with them in their distress, and works with them for liberation- a liberation in which they play a central roleRead MoreHistory Of South American Poverty And The Development Of Liberation Theology1451 Words   |  6 PagesLiberation Theology â€Å"But the poor person does not exist as an inescapable fact of destiny. His or her existence is not politically neutral, and it is not ethically innocent. The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible. They are marginalized by our social and cultural world. They are the oppressed, exploited proletariat, robbed of the fruit of their labor and despoiled of their humanity. Hence the poverty of the poor is not a call to generous relief actionRead MoreAnalyzing Black Liberation Theology, Latin American Liberation Theology, and Feminist Theology1371 Words   |  6 PagesLiberation Theology Black Liberation Theology, Latin American Liberation Theology, and Feminist Theology Liberation theology comprises of two main principles: it recognizes the call for liberation from any form of oppression economic, political, and social: second, it says that theology must grow from the basic Christian communities and not from above. Liberation theology examines the theological meaning of human activities, which includes an explanation of the Christian faith out of sufferingRead MoreLatin America and the Catholic Church Essay746 Words   |  3 PagesRunning head: LATIN AMERICA AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH xxxx HUMN xxx xxxx February 11, 2011 In 1983, Pope John Paul II visited Nicaragua in response to word that a growing alliance between priests and Marxists revolutionaries was emerging in Latin America. Historically, the Catholic Church in Europe had taken a strong anti-communist stance. And so the emerging alliance troubled Pope John Paul II despite the fact that priests claimed they were simply doing what Christ would do in championingRead More`` Jesus And Violence `` By Jon Sobrino1369 Words   |  6 PagesFor many years, violence has been the answer to conflicts in many Latin American countries. 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While many countries are still working toward a separationRead MoreEssay on Oscar Romero, Liberation Theology and the Catholic Church3831 Words   |  16 PagesOscar Romero, Liberation Theology and the Catholic Church In the post-World War II era, the globe was polarized by two idealistically divergent superpowers; the United States and the Soviet Union, two nations that strived to promote capitalism and communism, respectively, throughout the globe. Nowhere was this struggle more apparent than in developing countries with shaky political and economic backbones. Specifically, in Latin America the old, corrupt and often totalitarian regimes were threatened