Liberation theologies are the most important theological movement of our time. In the 20th century, their influence shook the Third and First Worlds, grass root organizations and the affluent Western academy, as well as the lives of priests and laypeople persecuted and murdered for living out their understanding of the Christian message. In the 21st C their insights and goals remain – unfortunately – as valid as ever.

Ivan Petrella

RECLAIMING LIBERATION THEOLOGY

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Acknowledgements

Series Editors’ Preface

Introduction

1. The Global Material Context of the Liberation Theologian: The Poverty of the Majority

2. The Material Context of the US Liberation Theologian: Poverty in the Midst of Plenty

3. The Theological Context of the Liberation Theologian: The Failure of Liberation Theologies

4. Beyond Liberation Theology

Coda

Afterword

Select Bibliography

Presents the global socio-economic context within which liberation theologians work. This book argues that at the heart of social abandonment is idolatry, and that we do not live in a secular world anymore but an idolatrous one. It believes that poor blacks suffer more than middle class blacks, that poor women suffer more than middle class women.

Ivan Petrella provides a bold new interpretation of liberation theology's present state and future possibilities. In so doing, he challenges a number of established pieties: Instead of staying within the accepted norm of examining liberation theologies individually as if they were closed worlds, he dares develop a framework that tackles Latin American, Black, Womanist, and Hispanic/Latino(a) theologies together; instead of succumbing to the fashionable identity politics that rules liberationist discourse, he places poverty at the forefront of concern; instead of seeking to carve out a small space for theology in a secular world, he shows that only an expansive understanding of liberation theology can deal with contemporary challenges. The end result is a wake-up call for liberation theologians everywhere and a radical new direction for liberation theology itself.

Controversial and brilliant. Petrella is one of the leading voices in twenty-first century Latin American Liberation Theology.' Marcella Althaus-Reid, PhD Chair in Contextual Theology, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh 'Ivan Petrella's brilliant and bold book raises several timely and important challenges for future work within &amp; about liberation theologies. He has produced a seamless and compelling integration of theology, economics, and legal theory, both addressing and stimulating debate with the major liberation theologies of the Americas. His analysis will be key for years to come.' Otto Maduro, Professor of Latin American Christianity &amp; World Christianity, Drew University Theological School 'In this timely and well-argued book Ivan Petrella's thought gets even more incisive and original. The current state of the world requires the challenge of liberation theology because the poor are dying everywhere, not only in the so-called Third World. Theology, economics and legal theory come together in this wonderful canvas of social reflexivity; this is a book that will remain seminal to all theologians in the 21st Century.' Mario I. Aguilar, Chair of Religion and Politics, Director, Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CSRP), St Mary's College, University of St Andrews

Ivan Petrella is Associate Professor at the University of Miami. His previous publications include Another Possible World and The Future of Liberation Theology.

Beyond Liberation Theology

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Beyond Liberation Theology

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