liberation theology and marx (12)

Question 1

material forces

Answer 1

Marx thought the world was controlled by these. humans contribute to such forces and when human/material in harmony people feel useful but this is rare.

Question 2

historical materialism

Answer 2

humans are rarely in harmony with material. the world moves towards harmony which collapses via conflict and is rebuilt. Marx thought this society had too much instability and we need revolution.

Question 3

fundamental evil

Answer 3

Marx says historical materialism lens to exploitation, dehumanisation and alienation.

Question 4

capitalism

Answer 4

to work goods must be produced (alienating humans) , worker must make stuff for higher classes and proletariat essentially machine, they are then opprressed as cant be created and exploitated through spending their wages

Question 5

upper/working class marxist names

Answer 5

proletariat- working class
bourgeoisie- upper class

Question 6

praxis

Answer 6

analysing a system of injustice and changing it. what Marx thinks people should do about capitalism.

Question 7

false consciousness

Answer 7

idea that the proletariat didnt realise they were being exploited.

Question 8

opium

Answer 8

“It is the opium of the people”
Marx says religion has the sam effect of a drug, a painful hallucination that makes people ignore what is going on around them.

Question 9

God and false consiouness

Answer 9

Marx says God is an example of this as he hides the truth from people.

Question 10

Marx’s teachings are successful

Answer 10

• theoretical level, very person centered and may remove oppression
  -provides clear analysis of society and helps understand how society is ran
• it brings joined up thinking’, different institutions in society do not exist individually

Question 11

Marx’s teachings are unsuccessful

Answer 11

• capitalism does no neccesairly mean exploitation and there are societies that happily do so
• marxist thought often leads to collapse (eastern europe)
• injustice and inequality persists

Question 12

liberation theology

Answer 12

emerged from latin america and rejects western approach to christianity which focuses on material and private worship. LT says politics/religion must be seperate and we need to stand in solidarity with the poor

Question 13

Marx and Liberation Theology

Answer 13

at the core of LT is the idea that religon should try and reverse the oppressive conditions of the poor. similar to Marx who said capitalism needs reversing

Question 14

Kingdom of God

Answer 14

LT think it is not one at the end of time but a transformation of society by overturning oppresive structure and alienation

Question 15

social sin

Answer 15

a system thar ends in poverty, violence and injustice. says entire systems need to be overturned (schools, state, churches)

Question 16

Liberation theologians

Answer 16

Camilo Torres Restrepo (catholic priest fight against colombian gov) others focus on need to live in solidarity with the poor and approach things ‘bottom up’

Question 17

Gustavo Guitierrez

Answer 17

founder of LT. Looking at oppressive gov in Latin America, GG drew links with orginal sin and social sin. he said christians need to fight against original sin as a sruggle against structual oppression. once that sin is gone we can move onto personal.

Question 18

Liberation Theology HAS fully engaged enough w Marxism

Answer 18

• acknowledges Jesus the one true teacher but radical steps are required. it has taken an atheist idea to it’s limit.
• has had a positive impact on groups in latin America, showing praxis has been somewhat success
• any futher engagement with marxism may lose christian focus

Question 19

Liberation Theology HASNT engaged fully enough w Marxism

Answer 19

• LT has not had a global impact and this may because Marxism not engaged enough. too much focus on spiritual.
• still deep injusticr in latin america and greater need for revolution
  -shoudl use the marxist system of analysis to apply it to other contexts, not just south america

Question 20

liberation theologians and jesus

Answer 20

example of Jesus shows positive discrimination in favour of outcasts in society because they need help to have equal happiness.

Question 21

preferential option for the poor

Answer 21

poor taking priotiy. biblical examples: Amos spoke against ignoring the needy and God taking pity of the Israelites and saving them through Exodus

Question 22

‘underside of history’

Answer 22

what Guiterrez described the poor as. they are constantly alienated and the church has helped w this by focusing on spirituality-why LT see church as structually sinful.

Question 23

marxist idea of reversal

Answer 23

overcoming false consiousness to identify where there is alienation. LT means tehre must be action before belief.

Question 24

‘bottom up’

Answer 24

as christianity spread in Latin America there wasnt always a priest there to lead. became ‘base communities’ which followed LT approach to action first. they were free from structual sin w no priest

Question 25

base communities

Answer 25

anyone read the bible, interpreted it and acted it. they were encourage to act before reading the bible.

Question 26

orthopraxis/orthodoxy

Answer 26

orthopraxis- right action orthodoxy- right belief LT believe orthodoxy alone couldnt overcome structural sin.

Question 27

christianity should priorities one group over another

Answer 27

- each of the gospel writers had a different focus, as should different groups depending on local needs - "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick" Mark 2:17 - to bring justice, injustice needs to be faced. LT does not deny that in the future there may be other needs except poor

Question 28

Christianity should not priorities one group over another

Answer 28

- some may say it is too focused on the poor. there are many types of peopel in the world who need help. - Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19), Jesus teaches that teh rich need just as much salvation as anyone - Jesus death on the corss is central work of salvation and LT has lost this

Question 29

Pope Benedict XVI

Answer 29

when he was Cardinel Ratzinger he said LT uses Marxism in an uncritical manner, saying it's impossible to break down marxism as u have to accept all of it. this became catholic church offical sentiment.

Question 30

Pope Francis

Answer 30

invited Gutierrez as a speaker at the vatican. Francis also said Marxism is wrong but he know good marxists.

Question 31

6 areas of catholic social teaching

Answer 31

human dignity, community, participation, care for creation, peace, solidarity. focus on people but not marxist. acknowledges other things, ie 2015 pope Francis Laudato Si- care for environment

Question 32

politics

Answer 32

liberation theologians must be involved in politics as to shift empasis away from capialist ideas

Question 33

christianity tackles social issues more efficently than marxism

Answer 33

- marxism has led to revolution but it is unclear whether this has brought more help for the poor - christianity is more hollistic on social issues than marxism than jujst the poor - christianity is global and works on a local level

Question 34

christianity does not tackles social issues more efficently than marxism

Answer 34

- christianity is not radical enough when it comes to social issues - christianity places too much emphasis on orthodoxy - christianity is global but hasnt had that much on an impact

Question 35

Act 2:44-45

Answer 35

'All the believers were together and had everything in common.' 'give to anyone in need'

Question 36

Matthew 6:24

Answer 36

'you cannot serve both God and money.'

Question 37

christianity should engage with athiest secular ideologies

Answer 37

- natural theologians would say reason can be somewhat accurate outside tyhe church and so u can be influenced by atheist ideas - insights offer a new way of looking at the world. Freud mind analysis mjight be helpful - secular ideas might be atheist but dont challenge religion - orthopraxis should be more important than orthdoxy

Question 38

christianity shouldnt engage with athiest secular ideologies

Answer 38

- christianity shouldnt show sympathy for views that reject god - christians must keep jesus at the center of their lives - implicantians of atheist ideas should be mentioned- ie marxism inspires violence - atheist ideologies are too extreme