Liberation Theology
Theological movement prioritizing liberation of the poor and oppressed as central to Christian faith. Gustavo Gutierrez developed liberation theology emphasizing God's 'preferential option for the poor'; theology reflects on faith's lived experience in oppression's context. Liberation theology integrates Marxist social analysis with Christian theology, seeking both spiritual and material liberation.
Real World
During El Salvador's civil war in the 1980s, Archbishop Oscar Romero publicly condemned military violence against the poor, citing liberation theology's preferential option for the poor — he was assassinated at the altar in 1980.
Exam Focus
Distinguish liberation theology's method (praxis-first) from traditional theology (doctrine-first); examiners reward precise use of 'orthopraxis' versus 'orthodoxy'.
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