LATI 50INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICA

RELIGION, THE CHURCH, AND LIBERATION THEOLOGY

CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS

Reading: Modern Latin America, chs. 7 and 14

Optional Paper: 6-10 pages on a topic of your choosing (approved by TA) Due in class Tuesday, March 11

CONVENTIONAL WISDOMS

Role of CatholicismConservative politicsAuthority of priesthoodUnchanging doctrinesCultures of faith

INCONVENIENT FACTS

60 % of world’s Catholics, and 90-95% born as Catholics, but: Only 71% describe selves as Catholic, but attendance at mass is

much less

Anti-clericalism and secularism significantIntense theological fermentCompetition from Protestantism and other religions

POPE FRANCIS I

AGAIN…

… AND AGAIN

HISTORICAL PATTERNS

Syncretism: blending of European (Catholic) and indigenous belief systems

Role of priest in village society: Preacher, teacher Arbiter, referee Path to upward mobility

Trinity of power: elite, military, and clergy Church as banker Doctrine of obedience

LIBERATION THEOLOGY

Origins: Rerum novarum (1891) and Catholic social doctrine Marxist analysis Vatican II (1962-65) Conference of Latin American Bishops (Medellín, 1968)

Principal themes: Social justice on earth Poverty a consequence of sin “Preferential option for the poor” Need for “liberation” from oppression and from avarice,

selfishness, lack of compassion = thus a more perfect relationship with God

MEANS TO LIBERATION

Christian Base CommunitiesReadings of the BiblePopular empowerment Support for revolutionary movements (in some cases),

resistance to authoritarian regimesOpposition from Vatican (Pope John Paul II and

Benedict XVI) and from institutional Church…less so from Francis I

THE CHURCH AND POLITICS

Difference between institutional hierarchy and regular “orders” (e.g., Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans)

Open support for human rights: Brazil Chile Central America (Nicaragua, El Salvador)

Conservative/reactionary stances: Argentina Colombia

RISE OF PROTESTANTISM

Key Doctrines Direct personal experience of God through baptism in the Holy Spirit

(thus, “born again”) Infallibility of Bible, personal healing

Brazil Assemblies of God Universal Church of Kingdom of God Estimates: 30+ million

Central America Guatemala

Factors Charismatic preachers + missionaries Appeal to migrants in urban slums, provision of practical support

systems No need for literacy (as in reading Bible)

ROOTS, AFRICAN AND INDIGENOUS

African: Umbanda (Brazil) Candomblé Santería (Cuba)

Indigenous: Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru

AND SO…

Revision of conventional wisdomVariety and range of experience and rolesComplexity of Latin American society and institutions