In: Orbis: FPRI's journal of world affairs, Band 30, S. 405-441
ISSN: 0030-4387
Connection with Marxism; position of the Vatican; role of Protestant churches; Latin America; 3 articles. What they mean by socialism, by Michael Novak; Counter-liberation, by James V. Schall; U.S. Protestants and liberation theology, by Kerry Ptacek.
The creation of a liberation theology within the contemporary UK is investigated. The question of whether a British liberation theology must be located within the context of the UK's material conditions is addressed, as is the issue of whether the conditions that create poverty can actually be localized to present-day British society. It is suggested that a British liberation theology must concern itself with analyzing how the UK has contributed to or complied with the oppression & exploitation of individuals living in Third World nations. It is subsequently argued that cultural factors, not economic or political determinants, should be at the forefront of a British liberation theology. After discussing the popularity of postmodernism in contemporary Northern nations, the notion of postmodernism is then identified as an obstruction to developing such a theological perspective. It is concluded that establishing a British liberation theology is dependent on the identification of an "ec-clesial" community base. J. W. Parker
'Let them talk ...!' Doing liberation theology from Latin American closets /Marcella Althaus-Reid --Once again liberating theology? Towards a Latin American liberation theological self-criticism /Otto Maduro --Queer eye for the straight guy: the making over of liberation theology, a queer discursive approach /Ivan Petrella --Oh, que sera, que sera ... A limping a/theological thought in Brazil /Claudio Carvalhaes --Commodity aesthetics and the erotics of relationship: challenges of feminist hermeneutics of liberation to market aesthetics /Nancy Cardoso Pereira --The prostitutes also go into the kingdom of God: a queer reading of Mary of Magdala --Martin Hugo Cordova Quero --Liberation theology, modernity and sexual difference /Mario Ribas --Liberating Mary, liberating the poor /Frederico Pieper Pires --Seriously harmful for your health? Religion, feminism and sexuality in Latin America /Elina Vuola --Worship and the excluded /Jaci Maraschin --Love in times of dictatorships: memoirs from a gay minister from Buenos Aires /Roberto Gonzalez with Norberto D'Amico.
Examines the discursive encounter between Marxism & Christianity in the evolution of liberation theology (LT) in Latin America. The origins of liberation theology in the late 1950s are discussed, & key innovations of LT involving the use of Marxism as a science for developing Christian praxis are examined. Recent efforts by advocates of LT have resulted in both more sensitivity to poverty & exploitation by the Catholic church & a softening of the negative view of religion held by Marxists. It is also demonstrated that LT in Latin America has historically eschewed the theoretical Marxism of the West in favor of the sociological & economic Marxism of dependency theory, as elaborated by such writers as Orlando Fals Borda & Theotonio dos Santos. It is concluded that LT is well on the way to becoming a staple of Christian theology. W. Howard
Liberation theology's response to global economic processes is investigated, focusing on the Church's attempt to assist poor peoples who have been negatively affected by global economics. Although liberation theology was expected to provide guidance for Christian officials who had to address globalization processes, it is asserted that this perspective failed to adequately articulate its own theory about market economies. In addition, it is contended that liberation theology has fallen short of proffering a comprehensive model for creating a political state. After noting that any future political system can only partially coincide with the Christian vision because of religious pluralism & secularism, two strategies that adhere to Christian scripture for rectifying the problems caused by globalization are presented. The need to not perceive the Church as a civil society organization is subsequently articulated. Despite the Church's success in combating poverty through its debt remission campaign, it is stated that the economic problems experienced through globalization by the world's poorest nations will not be resolved through the remission of debts. The issue of whether globalization processes will change the Church itself is also considered. J. W. Parker