Discusses liberation theology, its application in different contexts, and its theoretical underpinnings as described by writers such as Paolo Freire.
This paper primarily discusses liberation theology as formulated in Latin America and analyzes its theoretical underpinnings through the works of its two main proponents, Gustavo Gutierrez and Paulo Freire. It also examines the theological and practical methodology they developed, the historical role of the Catholic Church in Latin America, and finally, the implementation of liberation theology in Brazil, South Africa, El Salvador, and most importantly, Nicaragua.
“Liberation theology is a movement that uses religion as the tool of action for the emancipation of the oppressed. This is a very vague definition yet an apt reflection of reality for under the umbrella of this theological theory one finds the struggles of blacks, feminists, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans. However, the Latin American experience stands out as it is the precursor of most contemporary theologies of liberation as well the first breeding ground where the concept was fleshed out by its main advocates including Gustavo Gutierrez and Paulo Freire into a tangible form.”