Liberation Theology History 1 Vatican II 2 Medellin

Liberation Theology: History • 1. Vatican II • 2. Medellin Conference • Latin American Bishops(1968)

Beliefs • 2. Beliefs • Group 1: pp. 112 -Nicaraguan peasant mass • How does this compare with forms of Christianity that you are most familiar with? • Group 2: Murals • How does this compare with forms of Christianity that you are most familiar with? • What are your general impressions of liberation theology?

Liberation Theology: Doctrines • 1. Theology comes out of the action of liberation • 2. Usage, but not wholesale acceptance of, Marxism • 3. God of the poor- • 4. Sin • 5. Christ as liberator not separate from this world • 6. Salvation occurs in history not in a separate "city" • • • 7. Church should not be neutral but show a "preferential option for the poor" • (From Christian Smith -The Emergence of Liberation Theology 8. New man, new society (inner and societal change go together)

Liberation Theology: Practices • A. CEBs • Ecclesial base communities • B. Links to leftist and guerrilla movements

Question—When do the “popular” religious traditions of peasants and the lower classes become the basis for popular political mobilization? • What factors would Gramsci/Scott say were key? • Gramsci 106 -7 • Scott 107 -8 • Nepstad 119 -120

Closing Opportunities • 1. Puebla Conference 1979 • 2. Pope John Paul II 1978 -2005 • Cardinal Ratzinger/ Pope Benedict XVI 20052013 • 3. Pope Francis 2013—A new opening?