What´s Liberation Theology?

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Liberation Theology
“But the poor person does not exist as an inescapable fact of destiny. His or her existence is not politically neutral, and it is not ethically innocent. The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible. They are marginalized by our social and cultural world. They are the oppressed, exploited proletariat, robbed of the fruit of their labor and despoiled of their humanity. Hence the poverty of the poor is not a call to generous relief action, but a demand that we go and build a different social order.” ¹
― Gustavo Gutiérrez

During the 1950s and 60s nationalistic consciousness and significant industrial development in the areas of Peron in Argentina, Vargas in Brazil and Cárdenas in Mexico benefited the upper and middle classes. The casualties of these economic and regional changes were the poor peasantry who were pushed into a deeper marginalization and small depressed villages of shacks and huts. Dependent upon capitalism and subordination to rich nations, primarily the United States, led to widespread movements demanding changes in the socio-economic structure of the countries. Many of the movements accelerated into demonstrations and militant type activism. Strong military response was called upon by the dictatorships to react to the militants with extreme control over all demonstrations, which escalated into widespread acts of violence from both sides.
With the demand for change among the popular sections of society, a revolutionary atmosphere developed. Armed uprisings appeared in many of the countries in hopes to over throw the ruling dictators and governments.
The churches, missionaries, charismatic bishops and priests became actively involved in their social miss...

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...t Jesus Christ's mission of justice in this world.
The Liberation theology attempts to maintain tradition within religious practices. The foundation for Christianity is the main goal in liberation theology. Aims to liberate the poor and unjust in society are key elements in returning to the gospel of the early church for liberation theologians. In contrast, the social movement centers on transforming society which leads to the dismissal of traditional and earlier practices of Christianity. Criticism of the social movement stems from its attempt to create a heaven on earth. Proponents of the liberation theology essentially believe in the ultimate heaven and waiting for Jesus's return as he promised. The social movement dismisses those claims and assumes that heaven can be created here on earth through the form of transforming society into perfect peace and harmony.

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