Liberation Theology [Hardcover]

Phillip Berryman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 1987

In the chaos that is Latin American politics, what role does the Catholic church play with regard to its clergy and its members? How does the church function in Latin America on an everyday, practical level? And how successful has the church been intervening in political matters despite the fact that Latin American countries are essentially Catholic nations?Philip Berryman addresses these timely and challenging issues in this comprehensive. Unlike journalistic accounts, which all too frequently portray liberation theology as an exotic brew of Marxism and Christianity or as a movement of rebel priests bent on challenging church authority, this book aims to get beyond these cliches, to explain exactly what liberation theology is, how it arose, how it works in practice, and its implications. The book also examines how liberation theology functions at the village or barrio level, the political impact of liberation theology, and the major objections to it posed by critics, concluding with a tentative assessment of the future of liberation theology. Phillip Berryman was a pastoral worker in a barrio in Panama during 1965-73.From 1976 to 1980, he served as a representative for the American Friends Service Committee in Central America. In 1980, he returned from Guatemala to the United States and now lives in Philadelphia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A]n introduction that competently places liberation theology in its cultural and religious context, [and] elucidates its roots in the Bible and in Catholic theology." --The Washington Post Book World "Liberation Theology is just the book I've been searching for--unsuccessfully until now--as the basic text for the course I offer on Latin American Liberation Theology. It is everything I need. Concise, well-written, and balanced, it gives some real attention to the critics of Liberation Theology, as any fair text must do." --Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School "...a very clear, reliable, and readable introduction to and survey of liberation theology. It is also an introduction to the literature on the subject interwoven with history...[and] Berryman is a very trustworthy interpreter." --Dr. Larry Rasmussen, Union Theological Seminary "The book answers the charge that Liberation Theology is essentially Marxist by indicating to the reader that the use of Marxism is something minor in comparison to a Biblical reading and interpretation in the light of contemporary social and political realities... It advocates the use of theologies of liberation and is addressed to an American audience." --Monsignor Joseph W. Devlin, Department of Religion, LaSalle University "... adds significantly to the documenting and appraisal of a theological movement of lasting importance." --John Raines, Department of Religion, Temple University

From the Publisher

How does the church function in Latin America on an everyday, practical, and political level?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press; 1St Edition edition (February 3, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087722479X
• ISBN-13: 978-0877224792
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,668,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Comprehensive Guide to Liberation Theology, August 2, 2010

By 

J P Romack (Phnom Penh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Liberation Theology (Hardcover)

I've read five or six books of this genre, that is, various introductions to Liberation Theology. In my estimation this book is the best of them for North American readers. The book sets LT in its social/economic/historic/cultural context in such a way that those who have not yet read Gutierrez, Boff, Bonino, et al will get a thorough and balanced treatment of this particular contextual theology. The author is a former priest who spent many years living and working in Central America. His treatment of the subject matter is sympathetic but balanced. If I were to teach a class introducing LT this would be required reading.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intro to Liberation Theology, August 4, 2007

By 

J. Golden - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liberation Theology (Paperback)

From the back cover: "Now, using the plainspoken approach that made his INSIDE CENTRAL AMERICA the indispensable book on current affairs in the region, Phillip Berryman traces the origins, spread, and impact of liberation theology. He shows how its proponents have radically reinterpreted basic Biblical themes (such as the Creation, the Exodus, and the promised Kingdom of God) from the perspective of the poor and disenfranchised. By asking not "What must I believe?" but rather "What is to be done?" they make a direct connection between religious beliefs and political life."