Evangelical Theologies Of Liberation And Justice

Despite the current evangelical focus on justice work, evangelical theologians have not adequately developed a theological foundation for this activism. In this insightful resource, evangelical academics, activists, and pastors come together to survey the history and outlines of liberation theology, opening a conversation for developing a specifically evangelical view of liberation that speaks to the critical justice issues of our time.

Individual chapters focus on the way that the origi-nal concepts of Latin American libertion theloogy have become the foundation for feminist, African-American, Hispanic, African, First World and Asian theologies of liberation.

Liberation Theologies in the United States reveals how the critical use of religion can be utilized to challenge and combat oppression in America. In the nascent United States, religion often functioned as a justifier of oppression. Yet while religious discourse buttressed such oppressive activities as slavery and the destruction of native populations, oppressed communities have also made use of religion to critique and challenge this abuse. As Liberation Theologies in the United States demonstrates, this critical use of religion has often taken the form of liberation theologies, which use primarily Christian principles to address questions of social justice, including racism, poverty, and other types of oppression. Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas and Anthony B. Pinn have brought together a stellar group of liberation theology scholars to provide a synthetic introduction to the historical development, context, theory, and goals of a range of U.S.-born liberation theologies: Black Theology—Anthony B. Pinn Womanist Theology—Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas Latina Theology—Nancy Pineda-Madrid Hispanic/Latino(a) Theology—Benjamín Valentín Asian American Theology—Andrew Sung Park Asian American Feminist Theology—Grace Ji-Sun Kim Native Feminist Theology—Andrea Smith Native American Theology—George (Tink) Tinker Gay and Lesbian Theology—Robert E. Shore-Goss Feminist Theology—Mary McClintock Fulkerson “An extraordinary resource for understanding the vitality of liberation theologies and their relation to social transformation in the changing U.S. context. Written in an accessible and engaged way, this powerful and informative text will inspire beginners and scholars alike. I highly recommend it."—Kwok Pui-lan, author of Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology “A delight to read . . . [and] an exemplary account of the genre of liberation theologies." ―Religious Studies Review

In the past twenty-five years, liberation theology has emerged as one of the most influential, challenging, and controversial movements in modern theology. Whether in its Asian, African, Latin American, or African-American forms, liberation theology has undertaken to reexamine the dimensions of Christian faith from the perspective of the marginalized and oppressed. Here, at last, is a collection of readings from a cross-section of the world's leading exponents of liberation theology, designed to offer an overview of liberation theology and its central themes. Topics included are methodology, christology, ecclesiology, and spirituality. Each chapter includes a helpful introduction and questions for discussion, making this an ideal introductory text for students, as well as scholars and other general readers. Contributors: Maria Pilar Aquino Tissa Balasuriya Dominique Barbe Clodovis Boff Leonardo Boff Ernesto Cardenal Chung Hyun Kyung James H. Cone Jean-Marc Ela Ivone Gebara Gustavo Gutierrez Mary Hunt Sallie McFague Mary John Mananzan Carlos Mesters Anne Nasimiyu-Wasike Sun Ai Park Jon Sobrino Charles Villa-Vicencio Yong Ting Jin

Brown explains and illuminates liberation theology for North American readers who may have no previous knowledge of this recent dynamic Christian movement. Growing out of the experience of oppressed people in Latin America, liberation theology lends a transforming power to both the study of the Bible and the Christian duty to work for justice for all God's people.

Description: Despite the fact that the theological gains of Latin American Liberation Theology (LALT) have been incorporated into several theologies around the world, many North Atlantic evangelicals still consider LALT a heresy. The underlying reason for the lack of positive engagement between North Atlantic Evangelical Theology in general--and American Evangelical Theology in particular--and LALT is the mistaken perception that LALT and evangelical theology are necessarily contradictory. In Evangelicals and Liberation Revisited, Joao Chaves analyzes instances of the evangelical-liberationist interaction and examines the generally suspicious responses given to LALT by North Atlantic Evangelicals. Evangelicals who think of LALT as a heresy have failed to look not only into the diversity that exists among liberationists, but also into the different theological expressions within their own movement. Joao Chaves argues convincingly that if evangelicals think about both liberation theology and their own theological commitments critically, then they will be able to recognize that LALT can be an indispensable ally in their commitment to following God. Endorsements: ""Can Latin American liberation theology and North Atlantic evangelicalism complement one another? Yes, says this Brazilian evangelical theologian in this succinct and incisive analysis. Chaves' sensitive reading offers a crisp history of liberation theology, breaks down misconceptions, and offers exciting new possibilities of weaving together two seemingly disparate perspectives. This book makes a great contribution that richly repays exploring."" --David E. Garland, Dean and Professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University ""The good news of salvation and liberation lies at the heart of the gospel. Both evangelicals and liberationists concerned with the message of liberation and salvation should be, in spite of differences, conversation partners. This book creates an important contribution to starting such a dialogue, and as such, is a must-read for both evangelicals and liberationists."" --Miguel A. De La Torre, Professor of Social Ethics and Latino/a Studies, Iliff School of Theology ""Joao Chaves builds a bridge that needed to be built--between liberation theology and evangelical theology. Each has much to gain from the other once obstacles of misunderstanding are removed, and that is exactly what Joao Chaves does in this short, clear, and needed book."" --Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christianity ""It is often assumed that liberation theology, as developed in Latin America, has nothing in common with evangelical theology. Joao Chaves, however, suggests there is scope for sympathetic dialogue between the two. Because they share a concern for social transformation, they may even be compatible."" --David Bebbington, Professor of History, University of Stirling ""In a lucid and enjoyable text, Joao Chaves revisits the debate between evangelicalism and liberation theology, making a strong case against hypothetical incompatibility between these two schools. Drawing on a vast number of sources and rejecting common stereotypes, Chaves points to the existing plurality and relevant developments in both camps, highlighting nuanced approaches that bring evangelicalism and liberation theology closer to each other."" --Raimundo C. Barreto Jr., Director of the Division on Freedom and Justice, Baptist World Alliance About the Contributor(s): Joao Chaves is Adjunct Faculty at the Baptist University of the Americas, San Antonio, Texas. He has degrees in cross-cultural studies, biblical studies, and theology. A native Brazilian, Joao lives in South Texas with his wife, Paula, and their kids, Jonathan and Rebecca."

The purpose of this handbook is to introduce the reader to Christian concepts from the perspective of U.S. marginalized communities. It explores the interrelationship between religion, community, and culture in the social context of different marginalized groups, specifically those rooted in the African American, Amerindian, Asian American, feminist, gay/lesbian, and Hispanic experiences, and their impact on the development of U.S. theologies of liberation. The handbook gives attention to the history, nature, sources, and development of these theologies and the theologians who contributed to their formation. Of particular interest is how Handbook of U.S. Theologies of Liberation clearly distinguishes both the differences and similarities between these U.S. theologies and their Latin American counterparts. The handbook is divided into two sections: Thematic Essays that provide a general overview of a specific theological theme from the perspectives of different marginalized groups; and Contextual Essays that focus on the specific contributions of scholars from various racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds.