gutierrez
Gustavo Gutierrez is one of the fathers of what has been termed 'Liberation Theology.' He is a native of Peru and is most well known for his book, A Theology of Liberation. Similar in nature to Bonhoeffer, he believes that theology must start with the sufferings of the oppressed. Liberation theologians in general believe that "God speaks particularly through the poor, and that the Bible can be understood only when seen through their perspective" (www.brown.edu). In the face of suffering and adversity identified in Peru, Gutierrez questioned the traditional term 'theology.' He saw theology as a disconnected exercise of the intellect, and to him it made no sense to ascribe authority to a system appearing so abstract. A path needed to be carved which was to get the Church to have a hand in the struggle to supersede the Neo-Classical Capitalism with a more equitable and Bible-focused social-economic order. Theology is not a reflection on truth, or a philosophy, but more simply is a way to live. This is what Gutierrez refers to as 'praxis.' This lead him to redefine theology as a reflection on 'praxis' in light of the Word of God: to be committed to the poor in real situation, and to identify with them and take action on thei
This is possible in the context of liberation theology because oppression is not claimed to be simply confined to a religious and spiritual realm, but it also is applied to political, social, and economic domains. The commitment is to witness to the evil which has resulted from sin and is a breach of communion. Through this class analysis, the Church suggests two courses of action that are believed to lessen or eradicate the problems of poverty and to obtain a social order of Biblical justice (class notes). Liberation Theologians read the truth of the Bible as God speaking of liberation of the poor and the oppressed. It is not a question of idealizing poverty, but rather of taking it on as it is- an evil- to protest against it and to struggle to abolish it. The large landowner, however, is not merely expected to 'give up' his land without compensation. Breaking away from this status quo is Liberation. Liberation theologians believe that those who are oppressed can, and do sin, by bowing down to their bondage. So Marxism has its influence because Liberation Theology is anti-authoritarian, anti imperialist, has a preferential opinion for the poor, and stands against laissez-faire capitalism and oppression. Through participating in the land reform, this landowner would be fairly compensated for the land that is given up. If the ultimate cause of human exploitation and alienation is selfishness, the deepest reason for voluntary poverty is love of neighbor. This is the concrete, contemporary meaning of the witness of poverty. Liberation is not just religious liberation. I will close with the words of Gutierrez himself, once again summarizing his passionate view of Christian poverty as not only a loving act of cohesion with the poor, but also a liberatory protest against destitution: "Poverty is an act of love and liberation.
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