Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: dhosek@jarthur.claremont.edu (D.A. Hosek) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Liberation Theology (was Re: A Dialogue with Rome: part I) Message-ID: Date: 15 Dec 89 06:49:26 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Pitzer College, Claremont, CA 91711 Lines: 43 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu There are a couple of things that I might be able to contribute to this discussion... Regarding Marxism and liberation theology: yes, there are Marxist elements in liberation theology, but only to the extent that there are also Marxist elements in the New Testament. (give all you have to the poor &c.) That the liberation theologists have to a certain extent allied themselves with Marxist rebels is indisputable, but, one must remember that there is no one else who is willing to listen (or DO). Those doing Liberation Theology are preaching a primarily religious message and, at least doctrinally, are preaching against violence. Yes, there still is violence, but it's happening on both sides. It would be nice if change could occur without violence, but I don't see any way that it could. Liberation Theologists go to great pains to avoid emphasizing connections with Marxism. Not because there is anything wrong with the fundamental message of Marxism (which is neither revolution nor atheism, but rather the elimination of class barriers and the ability for the workers to control their own destiny), but because terms like "Communism" and "Marxism" have rather emotional connotations to them for most Westerners (think about it. If I were to say that I am a Communist, would you react negatively? Even if you don't know what _I_ believe?). Think back to the whole L-word thing in the 88 election and consider how much more emotional the impact of words like Communism and Marxism is. Finally, I would like to recommend a book on Liberation Theology which rather frankly and clearly explains what Liberation Theology is concerned with: _Liberation Theology_ by Phillip Berryman. -dh -- "Odi et amo, quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior" -Catullus D.A. Hosek. UUCP: uunet!jarthur!dhosek Internet: dhosek@hmcvax.claremont.edu [I guess the term "Marxism" is getting as imprecise as the term "Christian". But I would not say that giving all you have to the poor is necessarily Marxist. Marx' name is associated with an approach to analyzing societies, which emphasizes looking at economic structures and motivation. It is also associated with a specific political program that later was taken over by Communism. --clh]