Gutierrez Essay Research Paper Gustavo Gutierrez is

Gutierrez Essay, Research Paper

Gustavo Gutierrez is one of the fathers of what has been termed Liberation Theology. He is a native of Peru and is most well known for his book, A Theology of Liberation. Similar in nature to Bonhoeffer, he believes that theology must start with the sufferings of the oppressed. Liberation theologians in general believe that “God speaks particularly through the poor, and that the Bible can be understood only when seen through their perspective” (www.brown.edu).

In the face of suffering and adversity identified in Peru, Gutierrez questioned the traditional term theology. He saw theology as a disconnected exercise of the intellect, and to him it made no sense to ascribe authority to a system appearing so abstract. A path needed to be carved which was to get the Church to have a hand in the struggle to supersede the Neo-Classical Capitalism with a more equitable and Bible-focused social-economic order. Theology is not a reflection on truth, or a philosophy, but more simply is a way to live. This is what Gutierrez refers to as praxis. This lead him to redefine theology as a reflection on praxis in light of the Word of God: to be committed to the poor in real situation, and to identify with them and take action on their behalf.

He believes theology should make explicit the commitments and concerns of the people, who are on the ground, with scripture in hand, trying to figure out what to do. Therefore, theology has a context. Theologians who do not realize this notion of context are disillusioned, and unaware of the fact that through this naivete they are representing an elite bourgeoisie far removed from economic suffering of the poor and oppressed. They fail to recognize the fact that due to these economic and social differences, the poor and the rich encounter Biblical revelation in completely different manners and from completely different perspectives. In the theological process, therefore, praxis must be the first stage, and theology the second. Theologians are not meant to be solely theoreticians, but also practitioners participating in the continuing struggle to liberate the oppressed.

Gutierrez believes that faith and theology are not interchangeable, but rather that faith is something that must come before theology. More clearly stated, theology comes from the belief that an individual has in God, and it is only through this belief in God that one can be able to begin to reflect in a theological sense. Gutierrez also feels that theology must be grounded purely in the Word of God, and not bound by one s own personal agenda. This is an area where Gutierrez feels that modern theology has gone astray. It has broken away from the Word of God and has lost the essential element of action. Furthermore, theology is not only spiritual, but also scientific, which Gutierrez refers to as theology as wisdom and theology as rational knowledge. All of these parts must co-exist in line with the other, and be educed from the Word of God. Liberation Theology understands this complete meaning of theology.

There are several types of Liberation Theology (such as Black Liberation Theology, and Feminist Liberation Theology), but Gutierrez focuses specifically on Latin America. By focusing on Latin America, he derives meaning out of the struggle and injustice between developed and underdeveloped nations. Liberation Theologians read the truth of the Bible as God speaking of liberation of the poor and the oppressed. Therefore, any doctrinal teachings must be understood with this notion in mind. Since God has this preferential option for the poor and oppressed, the Church should have this same preferential option for the poor, and not the rich and powerful. Only if the rich and powerful take care of the poor and oppressed will God look favorably upon them, otherwise he will look down upon them and punish them.

Since “sin is evident in oppressive structures, in the exploitation of man by man, in the domination and slavery of peoples, races, and social classes” (175), Gutierrez believes that if one tolerates these unjust social structures which exist between developed and underdeveloped nations, one is at the same time rejecting God. The word of God commands Christians to rise up against this oppression and to break free from the command of powerful nations. This command to rise up against powerful nations is part of the Marxian influence on Liberation theology. To truly break the evil roots of the problem, developing countries must break from their dependence on the rich countries. Liberation, therefore, refers to the inescapable moment that radical changes will lead to true development. Breaking away from this status quo is Liberation.

There are three main parts into which Gutierrez divides the term Liberation. First, Gutierrez speaks of liberation as freeing oppressed peoples of social classes, economic, and of social and political conflict between wealthy and oppressed nations. Throughout time, God has liberated, or freed humans. For example, “in Creation He frees man from the chaos of lower nature; in the Exodus He frees the Hebrews from oppression by the Egyptians in the House of Bondage” (class notes). Gutierrez further speaks of applying Liberation to a historical context, by implying that man can liberate himself by taking his own destiny in his hands. Liberation entails internal, or psychological liberation. Li