7.
Actionability of Liberation Theology As Seen In Peru and India

    Liberation theology is a religious and social ideology and movement. Based on the book A Theology of Liberation, by Gustavo Gutiérrez, the movement sought to right the socio-economic wrongs prevalent in Latin America during the mid-1900s from a Catholic standpoint. Liberation theology takes a Marxist lens to the bible, highlighting class struggle and poverty as a spiritual connection amongst everyone. Gutiérrez highlights three points about poverty and the attitudes needed to approach it. First, he describes poverty as a scandal. It is a shameful, immoral condition that shouldn’t exist. This scandal is, of course, not the fault of those experiencing it, but of those with power who allow it to continue. Second, he describes poverty as spiritual. Looking at Jesus Christ, who had lived a life of poverty, Gutiérrez notes that an impoverished and immaterial life is more in line with that of Jesus’. The last point is solidarity. Solidarity involves the choices to lead an immaterial life, share wealth with others, and to be of service to others. This choice of lifestyle again is in line with how Jesus lived as well as what he preached about serving others. The notion of the wealthy and the impoverished isn’t limited to material wealth. Gutiérrez includes groups that have been cast aside, such as ethnic and racial minorities or people persecuted due to gender or religion. In the decades nations worldwide gained independence from colonial powers, wealth and power were still in the hands of the nations’ elite communities (Gutiérrez 1988). Gutiérrez and other priests and theologians shifted their religious services and practices to meet the needs of the poor, majority population in response to a Catholic Church they saw as corrupt, favoring the rich and elite. Under this framework, how may Liberation theologies successfully confront poverty and where may it fail? How actionable is this theology?

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