Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: !hwt@bnr-fos.uucp (Henry Troup) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Liberation Theology (was Re: A Dialogue with Rome: part I) Message-ID: Date: 3 Dec 89 17:56:45 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd., Ottawa, Canada Lines: 53 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article smith_c@ncsatl.uucp writes: >...Father Ratzinger got "mugged" >by liberation theology, I think. At least, for me, the very idea combining >biblical and marxist themes to manufacture revolutionary class struggles in >pursuit of social justice turns my stomach. >...Social justice first then salvation. >Communism is inherently evil. ... I think that one must be a little careful here. To me, in such places as most of Latin America, the situation is this: There is a small wealthy class, who own 'the means of production' there is a very large poor class who are exploited Something very violent is likely to happen, given these circumstances. Liberation theology was an attempt to move the Church of Rome from its historical position (on the side of the rich landowning classes) to the 'right' side - the poor and dispossessed. I don't think that I need to quote reams of scripture to justify this end. What we have left is a discussion about the means to the end. To the extent that liberation theology embraced terrorism without any attempt to moderate the tactics of terrorists, it was probably wrong. But there is an accepted doctrine of 'just war' - all the major Christian churches have endorsed various wars, at various times. Abraham Maslow is famous for originating the concept of 'a hierarchy of needs'.\Essentially, until a lower need in the hierarchy is satisfied, no attention will be given any higher need. The hierarchy goes something like this: - air - water - food ... - self-actualization I, at least, view religion as coming somewhere in 'self-actualization'. When people are drowning, they have no time for worrying about food, and when people are exploited they have little time for religion. Therefore, social justice before salvation. Social justice may mean no more than the right to a living wage, and a union. I've tried to make two points - to encourage social justice is an obligation, and it is one that churches have been rather poor at. that churches have been poor 'right Henry Troup - BNR owns but does not share my opinions ..utgpu!bnr-vpa!bnr-fos!hwt%bmerh490 or HWT@BNR.CA