Liberation Theology and Social Justice

Abstract

As we saw in Chapter 3, traditional religion does not have a great deal to say on social justice, for this conception of justice is very much a product of modem consciousness; and in Chapter 4 we outlined some of the problems involved in regarding social justice as a primary concern of religion. This is not to say that certain traditional religious concepts, episodes and symbolism cannot be interpreted in ways that would seem to have a very explicit message on issues that are considered central to this narrower conception of social justice. Indeed, it is because such reinterpretation has been found to be possible that modem social reformers, of a religious persuasion, have considered it fitting to spread their ‘gospel’ of change, without having to abandon their religious framework. And such reformers have arisen within practically all the major faiths, and right round the world. In Latin America, however, there has been a significant contemporary movement claiming that, insofar as traditional Christianity has failed to see this kind of social justice as its primary goal, it has missed the point of original Christianity and of the person and message of Jesus Christ. This movement, particularly the theology behind it, is known as Liberation Theology; and is the subject of our discussion in this chapter.