- CC 325 DX - Liberation Theology
- 3 or 4 Credits
MWF 12:55-1:45 pm - Professor Sparks
Cross-listed with THEO 348 AX
Fulfills upper level Theology requirement
Liberation Theology had already emerged in Latin America when Gustavo Gutiérrez, one of the “fathers” of liberation theology, wrote his foundational work of 1971, A Theology of Liberation. This book introduced liberation theology, especially from the Latin American context, to the wider world. Gutiérrez’s introduction to the book also attempted to generate a grassroots, or “popular,” theological movement in accord with contemporaneous social concerns and critiques. As a result, a wide variety of other “popular” genres such as sermons, pastoral letters, poetry, folk music, murals, catechism lessons, testimonios, human rights reports, et cetera—have been employed over the decades to also reflect upon, generate, and disseminate liberation theology.
This course will introduce students to some of the first generation of Latin American liberation theologians (mostly Catholics but also a couple of Protestants) as well as their critics, such as the Vatican and indigenous peoples. It will examine the sources, contexts, methods, and results of their efforts, especially some of the popular materials aimed at both Latin American and global audiences. As part of the new global audience, students will also consider throughout the course the continuing significance of liberation theology as it has shaped U.S. foreign policy toward the region. We will also consider its impact on nationalist policies within the region at the same time that liberationist heroes/heroines became lionized (if not also canonized) while their critics were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize or eventually elected Pope. In addition to class participation (for 20% of the course grade, including regular Blackboard postings), students will write four two-page academic books reviews (for 50% of the course grade) plus either a 8-10 page final exam OR a 8-10 page research paper on an issue of their own interest related to the course (for 30% of the course grade). No prior knowledge of Christian theology or Latin American history or culture is required.
As a result, this course aims to have students:
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describe the basic claims, characteristics, and features of liberation theology in general, i.e., “praxis,” context, “conscienceousness,” “poor,” “liberation,” “solidarity,” et cetera;
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become knowledgeable in particular on the social and historical contexts of Latin American liberation theology;
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compare the various types of introductory materials written about, for, and by liberationists and the “poor”;
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analyze some of the claims by and about intellectuals of that period—whose impact is still influential today—and to be able to evaluate them; and master and make practically accessible a specific academic genre – the book review.
Our core readings will consist of brief selections from various texts (written, musical, and visual) as well as a few of the foundational introductory writings by key thinkers, such as:
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Introducing Liberation Theology, Clodovis and Leonardo Boff
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I, Rigoberta Menchú, Elisabeth Burgos-Debray, ed.
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poems by Julia Esquivel
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Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire
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sermons by Medardo Gómez
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We Drink from Our Own Wells, Gustavo Gutiérrez
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pastoral letters by Óscar Romero
