Introduction
Religion plays a significant role in every human being’s life, and it arises a necessity to have an insight into vital parts of it. It is essential to be aware of liberation theology that can be considered a religious movement centered in Latin America, in the view of the contemporary world’s tendencies. Gustavo Gutierrez, known as the father of the mentioned method of defining Cristian faith, is the significant figure that shall be paid attention to. This essay will examine liberation theology’s background and provide a detailed overview of Gutierrez’s contribution to it.
Liberation Theology
It is possible to provide a comprehensive definition for the term “Liberation Theology.” According to Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia (2020), it is “the religious movement arising in late 20th-century Roman Catholicism and centered in Latin America” (para. 1). The date of the theology’s birth is 1968, and this event is associated with the second Latin American Bishop’s Conference that was held in Medellin, Colombia.
There was issued a document affirming the rights of the poor and asserting that industrialized nations enriched themselves at the expense of developing countries (Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia, 2020, para. 3). Liberation theology is an attempt to comply with contemporary realities, as it applies religious faith by providing assist to oppressed and poor ones through involvement in political and civil affairs. It is also focused on raising social awareness about inequities in socio-economical structures and changing how such communities’ mechanisms operate.
It is the primary statement of this faith that God speaks through the poor individuals’ lips. It is so because they are the weak part of society, and the magnificence of the community can be defined by the level of life of those with the lowest wealth. Therefore, Liberation theology claims that the Bible can be understood only when seen from the perspective of the poor (Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia, 2020, para. 2); (Gutierrez, 1970). It implies that the Latin American church is significantly different from the European one because of the emphasis on the improvement of economically disadvantaged ones’ lives.
Gutierrez’s Contribution to Liberation Theology from Latin American Perspective
Gustavo Gutierrez is the most famous figure associated with liberation theology. He was born June 9, 1928, and is known to be a Roman Catholic theologian and Dominican priest emphasizing a Christian duty to aid the poor and oppressed people. He is the author of the text “Teología de la liberación” or “A Theology of Liberation” that was the ground for the movement to arise (Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia, 2021, para. 3).
In this work, Gutierrez developed a new spirituality that is based on the solidarity of the poor individuals and asked the church to assist in changing the existing social and economic institutions to achieve social justice (Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia, 2021). In addition, he was the author of numerous other books and articles and founded and directed Institute in Lima to minister to the economically disadvantaged. The significance of the contribution of Gustavo Gutierrez to liberation theology cannot be overestimated, as his work was the foundation of this religious movement.
Conclusion
Liberation theology is a progressive religious movement that is of great importance in the contemporary world, especially from a Latin American perspective. It emphasizes the necessity of supporting the poor and oppressed individuals and promoting social justice in distinct institutions. The most significant figure of this theology is Gustavo Gutierrez, who is the author of the text, which became the foundation for the faith. He is also the person who significantly contributed to the level of life of economically disadvantaged individuals.
References
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia (2020). Liberation theology. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia (2021). Gustavo Gutiérrez. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web.
Gutierrez, M. G. (1970). Notes for a Theology of Liberation. Sage Journals, 31(2), 243–261. Web.