Liberation Theologies | Bibliography | Latin America Pt. 3
Chapter 7: Latin America, Theory and Praxis, Part 3
Cuba and the Caribbean
555. Arce Martinez, Sergio. The Church and Socialism. Reflections from a Cuban Context. New York: Circus, 1985.
Essays on Christians, the church and revolution, the church mission in a socialist society, evangelization, ecumenism, church renewal, theology and atheism, faith and ideology, Camilo Torres, authentic spirituality, and the creation of a new society. Arce equates Christianity with revolutionary action, and goes so far as to criticize liberation theology for being a form of intellectual enslavement, while he equates Gustavo Gutiérrez’ theology as a “theology of oppression” and “dependence.”
556. Aristide, Jean-Bertrand. In the Parish of the Poor. Writings from Haiti. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1990.
In late 1990 Aristide, who had been working quietly – and quite dangerously – among the poor and victimized in Haiti for years, suddenly gained world-wide fame when he was elected president of Haiti, despite the immediate condemnation of the archbishop and papal nuncio and an attempted coup by ex-Duvalier loyalists.
This series of writings is a form of spiritual autobiography of a minister of the people of Haiti; it is also liberation theology being born from the lives of the people themselves.
557. Barrett, Leonard E. The Rastafarians. The Dreadlocks of Jamaica. London: Heinemann; Boston: Beacon Press, 1977; rev. ed., Boston: Beacon Press, 1988.
Sees the movement – characterized to many by its dreadlocks, reggae music and “ganja” smoking – as a positive religious force for liberation, with its unity along class divisions, as an answer to the longings of the dispossessed of Jamaica for a spiritual life that meets the realities of their lives. In essence Rastafarianism is a millennial, utopian, messianic sect that divinizes the late Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as the Black Messiah, the hope of the black oppressed against the oppression of white dominated culture and society. In its more affluent settings Rastafarianism even attracts the white, middle class.
558. Campbell, Horace. Rasta and Resistance. From Marcus Garvey to Walter Rodney. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 1987.
A detailed history of the Rastafarian movement and the cultural and religious underpinnings of its push for liberation.
559. Davis, Kortright. Emancipation Still Comin’. Explorations in Caribbean Emancipatory Theology. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1990.
The history of the Caribbean is one of slavery and colonialism. Its theology therefore addresses the most urgent desires of its people: for liberation. Discusses the roots of Caribbean culture and religion, its theological foundations, the problem of liberating the structures and ministers of the church itself, links to other forms of liberation theology, and liturgical forms of emancipatory expression.
560. Erskine, Noel Leo. Decolonizing Theology. A Caribbean Perspective. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1981.
Topics include a discussion of the black Caribbean’s search for liberation, the historical background of slavery and emancipation in the Caribbean, ties to African-American culture and religion, including black theology, the role of the churches in oppression and liberation, the systematic elements of black theology, revivalism and Rastafarianism, and concluding remarks on a theology of liberation for the Caribbean.
561. Gómez-Treto, Raúl, The Church and Socialism in Cuba. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1989.
Traces the development of the relationship between the church and government since the revolution. Far from entering a new form of triumphalist alliance, the hierarchy in Cuba seems to be moving toward a social compact that will bring true justice and peace.
562. Hageman, Alice L., and Philip E. Wheaton, eds. Religion in Cuba Today. A New Church in a New Society. New York: Association Press, 1971.
This collection of essays include discussions of religion in Cuba, the historical background, theological reflections on the possibility of a Christian religion in a socialist state, and declarations of Cuban church bodies on politics and society. Authors include Serge Arce Martinez, Carlos German Renes, Orlando Contreras, Aldo J. Buntig, and Fidel Castro.
563. Hamid, Idris, ed. Troubling the Waters. San Fernando: Trinidad, 1973.
Not seen.
564. —. Out of the Depths. San Fernando: Trinidad, 1973.
Not seen.
565. Owens, Joseph. Dread. The Rastafarians of Jamaica. London: Heinemann’s, 1976.
Examines the religious experience, the adherents, the meaning of “Babylon” in both state and church structures of the West, the role of Haile Selassie as the messianic king, its emphasis on human responsibility and ethics, the power and sanctity of nature, the role of knowledge, i.e., experience, in faith, the role of time and history, and the place of exile on Jamaica and the meaning of Zion: the object of return. Finally, this thoughtful analysis concludes with a discussion of Rastafarian apocalyptism, and the role of persecution in the last days.
Base Christian Communities
566. Azevado, Marcello de Carvalho, S.J. Basic Ecclesial Communities in Brazil. The Challenge of a New Way of Being Church. John Drury, trans. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 1987.
After an introduction to the nature of “BECs,” the author examines the origins and formation of base communities in Brazil, their nature as community, ecclesial, and “basic,” and problems involved with their understanding. He then compares them to earlier models of community organizing and to the challenge of evangelization in Brazil.
A final section of the book looks at the ecclesiological dimensions of the BECs and the theology of the church as institution, sacrament, herald, servant and community. Excellent bibliography.
567. Barbé, Dominique. Grace and Power. Base Communities and Nonviolence in Brazil. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1987.
The working theology of liberation in the Brazilian base Christian communities is essentially and fully based upon the Bible and its insights. From its profound Christian roots it then focuses the attention of the poor upon their own salvation, which must involve liberation from social, economic, as well as political oppression. A wide-ranging collection of reflections that center on the saving role of grace in bringing liberation to the poor and oppressed of Brazil.
It begins with Barbé’s diary and his recognition of this misery; then discusses the theology of liberation and its impact on the church and on politics; a Trinitarian theology of redemption and liberation; and the role of grace and human power in the struggle for the poor. Barbé also poses a series of questions to the secularist and rationalist tradition of Marxism before describing the life and theology of the base Christian community, the role of the eucharistic ministry there; and the pastoral strategy of the diocese of Sao Paulo. The author concludes with a call for nonviolent social change and the psychological, socio-political and theological implications of this nonviolence.
568. —. A Theology of Conflict. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1989.
Far from condoning violence, the liberation theology of Brazil’s base Christian communities is profoundly biblical and Christian in its roots and applications: its form of revolution is nonviolent, and its method is the conscientization of the poor themselves to bring about their own liberation from the structures of oppression. Barbé, like James Douglass who wrote the introduction, Richard Schaull, Gene Sharp and others, is actively working on a theory and a theology of nonviolence as it is applied in the world. From such work will arise a new generation of Christian thought on peace that truly implements its most profound biblical intents.
569. Barreiro, Alvaro. Basic Ecclesial Communities. The Evangelization of the Poor. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1982.
Combines a solid theological understanding of scripture with first-hand experience as a pastor in a poor outskirt of Rio de Janeiro. Discusses Vatican II and the call to evangelize the poor, the BECs or base ecclesial communities, the poor in the Old Testament and in Jesus’ teaching; the liberating education of conscientization; the role of prophetic denunciation, the evangelical role of the BECs in fulfilling Christ’s mission and teaching; and the BECs role in turning passive hearers of the Gospels to their active preachers.
570. Bavarel, Michel. New Communities, New Ministries. The Church Resurgent in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1983.
See 206.
571. Boff, Leonardo. Ecclesiogenesis. The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Robert R. Barr, trans. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1986.
This is a popular introduction to the work of the base Christian communities that first introduces the communities, discusses whether they are the church itself or an ecclesial aspect of the church, and then proceeds to the praxis of confronting the realities of oppression and marginalization with the works of liberation. Questions addressed are not only those of society but of ecclesiastical structures themselves, including that of women’s role as both laity and clergy.
572. Bruneau, Thomas C. The Church in Brazil: The Politics of Religion. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1982.
Examines the 60,000 base Christian communities throughout Brazil. These are the outcome of the church’s new approach to evangelization: the work through the people. The communities were begun between 1950 and 1964 and consolidated between 1964 and 1974, despite state repression. While the BECs have not been as successful as hoped in true evangelization, they have presented a real challenge to Brazilian authoritarianism.
573. Cook, Guillermo. The Expectation of the Poor. Latin American Base Ecclesial Communities in Protestant Perspective. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1985.
The base communities studied are in Brazil.
574. Fragoso, Dom Antonio B. Face of a Church. A Nascent Church of the People in Crateús, Brazil. Robert R. Barr, trans. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1987.
Crateús is in northeastern Brazil, Fragoso its bishop. This book is a compilation of the thoughts and actions of members of the base ecclesial communities there. It is a day-to-day account of building a church among the poor.
575. Freire, Paolo. Cultural Action for Freedom. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Educational Research, 1970.
Freire is universally acknowledged as the educator whose theories and ideals gave rise to the term “conscientization” and the methods of the base Christian communities. This collection presents essays on adult literacy programs as a liberating activity, on conscientization, and on cultural revolution.
576. —. Education for Critical Consciousness. Education As the Practice of Freedom. New York: Seabury Press, 1973.
Topics include an examination of a society in transition, closed societies and democratic inexperience, education versus “massification,” and education and conscientization.
577. —. Education, the Practice of Freedom. London: Writers and Readers Publishing Cooperative, 1976.
Another edition of 575.
578. —. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Myra Bergman Ramos, trans. New York: Seabury Press, 1970; reprinted New York: Continuum, 1981.
On the process of conscientization. This is the fundamental book that has inspired much of the methods of Latin American liberation theology and the basic Christian communities.
579. —. The Politics of Education. Donaldo Macedo, trans. South Hadley, MA: Bergin & Garvey, 1985.
A collection of his essays. Topics include the act of reading and study, adult literacy, peasants and their texts, cultural action for agrarian reform, adult literacy programs as a liberation action, conscientization, political literacy, humanistic education, the church and liberation theology, black theology, and critical pedagogy.
580. —, and Antonio Faundez. Learning to Question. The Pedagogy of Liberation. Tony Coates, trans. New York: Crossroad/Continuum, 1989.
Not seen.
581. —, and Ira Shor. A Pedagogy for Liberation. Dialogues on Transforming Education. South Hadley, MA: Bergin & Garvey, 1987.
On general issues of liberating education, and then specifically on the issue of whether First-World students need liberating. Social transformation is the end of all liberating education.
582. Gáldamez, Pablo. Faith of A People. The Life of a Base Christian Community in El Salvador. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1987.
Follows the progress of a base community in El Salvador from concern with ecclesial and sacramental aspects of the religious life, to social and economic, and finally to the revolutionary concerns of the political aspects of the Christian message. Focuses on the individuals in the community themselves, who make this process alive.
583. Juventud Obrero Catolica, eds. Evangelization and the Working Class. Reflections. Lima: Y.C.W., Peru, 1975.
Evangelization on behalf of the liberation of the working class, through a revolution brought about by a new gospel and action. Topics include the option for the working class, the project of liberation, the ideological struggle, creating a liberating community, and the formation of a liberating spirituality.
584. Libânio, B. Spiritual Discernment and Politics. Guidelines for Religious Communities. Theodore Mowen, trans. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1982.
On the role of the ascetics of spiritual discernment: of meditation and prayer, of spirituality in the task of enpowerment, witness, prophesy and seeking the truth and then acting in the world of power and politics. Part 1 discusses the prerequisites for discernment, including the process of purification, generosity and prayer. Part 2 then focuses on the act of discernment, and Part 3 the criteria. Concluding sections deal with the role of faith in unravelling the complexities of political situations.
585. López Vigil, Maria. Don Lito of El Salvador. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1990.
Don Lito is a lay catechist in a base Christian Community. Journalist López illuminates the daily struggle of the the base communities through a series of interviews. This is theology by and for the poor.
586. Marins, Jose, and team. Basic Ecclesial Communities. Church from the Roots. Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications, n.d.
Not seen.
587. Mesters, Carlos. Defenseless Flower. A New Reading of the Bible. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1990.
The reading is by members of the base communities in Brazil who gain new understanding of the biblical text through the insights of their own experience of poverty and marginalization; and for whom the Bible takes on new importance as a guide to new lives.
588. Perez-Esclarin, Antonio. Jesus of Gramoven. Dinah Livingstone, trans. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1979.
Gramoven is an impoverished section of Caracas, Venezuela. Here the people of Gramoven follow Jesus during Holy Week in their own Stations of the Cross, a profound meditation on the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection set amid the suffering of their own life. Implicit in these stations are a critique of the other-worldly spirituality of the ruling class, which would make oppression and poverty purifying penances as preparation for paradise while greed holds sway on earth. A good example of the methodology and the results of base Christian communities making theology from the ground up.
589. Regan, David. Church for Liberation. A Pastoral Portrait of the Church in Brazil. Dublin: Dominican Publications, 1987.
Brazil makes up half of South America in both size and population. The Catholic church of Brazil is also the largest in the world. Events and experiments and new forms in Brazil are therefore of great significance for the church and the world as a whole. This book examines the Brazilian church from the viewpoint of its conversion to liberation, its base ecclesial communities, its use of scripture, its option for the poor, its bishops’ conference, its pastoral planning, and the spiritual and political dimensions of its message of liberation.
590. Rossa, Alberto, CMF. Basic Ecclesial Communities. The Stand of Third-Word Bishops: Brazil - Philippines - Mexico. Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications, n.d..
Not seen.
591. Pastoral Team of Bambamarca. Vamos Caminando. A Peruvian Catechism. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1985.
A catechism born out of the needs and experience of villagers of the Peruvian Andes. Liberation theology in the act of being born.
592. Schipani, Daniel S. Conscientization and Creativity. Paulo Freire and Christian Education. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1984.
A fresh interpretation of Freire’s work that emphasizes his epistemological and theological foundations.
593. Torres, Sergio, and John Eagleson, eds. The Challenge of Basic Christian Communities. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1981.
Articles by Torres, Dussel, Gutiérrez, Boff, Sobrino, d’Escoto, and others.
