Liberating Theological Methods: Borrowing a Leaf from Latin America

Abstract

Prominent among many Latin American liberation theologians, Gustavo Gutiérrez and Enrique Dussel hold strongly that theology is a second act, seeking to critically and reflectively make sense of the first act; that is, a religious experience or a spiritual encounter with God. Thus, these critical thinkers render any theological reflection that is abstract or elitist irrelevant to a spiritual-theological experience meant to be historically liberating. Gutiérrez describes the purpose of liberation theology as the development of “a reflection that is concerned with and based on practice in the light of faith.”1Borrowing a leaf from these thinkers, this article demonstrates the persistent relevance of a liberating theological method for our times.