Liberation Theology: An Introductory Guide

by Robert McAfee Brown

In a manner that is vivid and lively, Robert McAfee Brown explains and illuminates liberation theology for North American readers who may have no previous knowledge of this dynamic Christian movement. Growing out of the experience of oppressed people in Latin America, liberation theology lends a transforming power to both the study of the Bible and the Christian duty to work for justice for all God's people. With heartwarming, terrifying, and humorous stories, Brown shows the strength and significance of one of the outstanding developments in religious faith today and for the future.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity, Social Justice, Politics

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Robert McAfee Brown was a minister in the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, a theologian, and an activist.

He earned a bachelor's degree from Amherst College in 1943 and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1944. Brown earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1945, and served as a United States Navy chaplain from 1945 to 1946. The recipient of a Fulbright grant, Brown studied at the University of Oxford before completing a doctorate in the philosophy of religion at Columbia University in 1951. He married Sydney Thomson, and had four children.

Initially, Brown taught at his alma mater, Union Theological Seminary, before accepting an appointment as Professor of Religion at Stanford University in 1962. There he became an international leader in civil rights, ecumenical and social justice causes. Brown campaigned against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and was a co-founder of the group "Clergy and Laity Concerned about Vietnam". He was also a Protestant observer at the Second Vatican Council.

Brown left Stanford in 1975 to return to Union as Professor of World Christianity and Ecumenism, but quickly found his new post unfulfilling. He resigned and moved back to the Bay Area, where he taught at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley until his retirement in 1984. Brown was the author of 29 books, and his papers are now held at the Graduate Theological Union. Brown died on 4 September 2001, survived by his wife. A lecture series is named in his honor.

Reviews

[Graig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book for me to understand what liberation theology means. I think some believe that it is an alternate way of salvation, that somehow liberating the oppressed stands as a means of salvation. Instead, this book argues for liberating the poor within the context of the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that “no one enters heaven except through me.”

Some excerpts from my notes:

it cannot truly be God's will for most of God's children to suffer. God wills life and love and fullness for all and not just a few. And God wants our help to bring that about.

Unless we agree that the world should not be the way it is, we can never understand what liberation theory is all about.

The author says that the real problem liberation theology raises for its critics is its “radically biblical character.”

[Hansen Wendlandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any church can talk about God, but good churches talk about talking about God. That is, most simply, what “theology” is: being very careful about talking or reasoning about God. We all approach faith with our particular perspectives, but there are many different intentional ways of being careful about talking about God, many different methods of theology.
For the method of Liberation Theology, I have never seen a better introduction than Brown’s Liberation Theology: An Introductory Guide. It is easy to read but very precise, emotional but not saccharine, Biblical and systematically theological, political yet practical, realistic yet hopeful. Its description, history, and analysis of the liberation movement are spot on, and the depth is perfect for regular church-goers (or theology students who need a breath of air from Gutierrez). Some of the examples are dated, if you consider the 1980’s ancient history. And be warned: your habits, assumptions and politics will be placed up against the Bible and the state of the world, which can lead to some defensiveness and despair. But theology, like life, shouldn’t always be comfortable. Especially if you understand from the Bible that God has a “preference for the poor”, and if you see in the world that people are systematically marginalized, oppressed, and abused—“the world that is satisfying to is the same world that is utterly devastating to the” (44)—Liberation Theology calls us to serve and sacrifice. As Christ came to liberate, or loose our bonds through heaven and on earth, let us pursue justice, hope and grace.
With that said, plenty of well-meaning stars-and-stripes Christians will have a fit with Brown, or any hint of supporting governmentally organized interdependence. Whether or not Jesus preached about community, or the church thrives when it helps one another, ‘If it smells even remotely of state communism, it must be evil!’ Attempting to meet their confused Biblio-patriotism in the introduction, McAfee Brown writes: “I am firmly committed to the great American ideal of ‘liberty and justice for all,’ and because of that commitment feel obligated to point out places where the actuality is ‘liberty and justice for some’.” (x) Of course his real commitment is the gospel, which “must be translated into the actions and policies of a nation.” (7)
Herein lies the leap that so divides Americans. Despite the incontrovertible fact that religious values do shape the actions and policies of nations, should we do that intentionally, as a mission of the church? And if so, should the church push the white noise of anti-homosexuality and pro-militarism, or sacred, liberal ideals about treating people respectfully, even at the critique of our misguided, immoral leaders? That might sound a harsh assessment of the neo-conservatism that gave rise to Liberation Theology, and keeps it in business as much as ever; but the gospel has no room for ideology, certainly not those that rest on the sweat and blood of the powerless, justified by some bastardized image of God. In the words of Oscar Romero, “Either we believe in a God of life, or we serve the idols of death.” (19) This book collects stories of life and death, and Brown offers us ways to look at the world and act in ways that bring it a little closer to God’s vision of “a world in which justice flourishes, compassion abounds, and concern for the poor is paramount.” (48)

[Glen Gersmehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

an exceptional intro to the liberation theology movement and its profound insights and broad usefulness

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book was a simple introduction to the concepts and applications of liberation theology. I’ve wanted to know more about these ideas, especially since I’d heard negative things about LT from people I tend to disagree with on such issues😉.

Brown does a good job of simply and biblically explaining the characteristics of people living under LT, what they see themselves as freed from and moving to, and the benefits and characteristics of base communities. There are definitely some thought-provoking ideas here. It’s worth reading.

[alize · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good introductory book, clear and to the point. sometimes I didn't like his writing style but that's just me. does a good job supporting the theory with examples of praxis from base communities and connecting it all to modern america. doesn't shy away from the fact that america is not exactly living in liberation theology rn!! wish there was more on Kairos. good book to read for class

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book fairly suspicious, but it was truly a great read. The best aspect of Brown's writing, to me, was his authenticity and honesty about what this book is and what it isn't. Read as an assignment for school, but very much enjoyed this one.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Very good overview. All of the themes still resonate 25 years later.

[Kevin Orth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superior introduction to Liberation Theology. Concluding chapter makes this a five star rating, highly recommended.

[joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to liberation theology, although the book is occasionally overly simplistic.

[Everett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Robert McAfee Brown is the preacher, and I am the choir. I don't need to be sold on the virtues of Liberation Theology. So it drove me crazy how consistently Brown bypassed every single opportunity to make an interesting or provocative point. He sidesteps a proper Marxist analysis of the movement in Latin America entirely, and instead engages in the very worst sort of white-guilt identity politics. (Remember Robert, 'there is neither Jew nor Greek...') This is seasoned with Reagan-bashing (brave!) and tepid critiques of the "excesses of capitalism." Mabye I was expecting more "-ology" out of Liberation Theology, because I think Brown's stubborn insistence that to be "grass-roots" instead of "top-down," we must "begin with the people" and work up to ideas totally ruined it for me. His vague exhortations that "we mustn't just talk about this! we must do something!" are completely wrong-headed. The very strength of Christian resistance is it's ideological nature, inflicting a worldview onto the chaos of reality - Christianity offers an alternative vision, an ideal to be aspired to ("on earth, as it is in heaven") - the very opposite of stumbling pragmatically in the direction of nebulous, supposedly grass-roots "progress." I'm sure Brown is a well-intentioned man, but this treatise is very unhelpful.

[Trey Decker · Rating 1 out of 5]

When reading this book I found the general outline of every chapter to be relatively the same: Brown tells a cute story of how a Christian overcame the dominant culture to show love, then this is why we need Liberation theology, and then basically says, "Let's all be socialists for Jesus!" The book is, in my humble opinion, poorly written, though simplistic, it doesn't convey well what the principles of Liberation Theology are as played out in a society ran by this doctrine, and it rarely provides greater than anecdotal evidence to the claims. I think in general Liberation Theology is a very important development, but overall it's no greater than any other Christian denomination. They all pick and choose what they hold as sacred words of God, and ignore the other scriptures that don't align fully with their own tenets. Liberation Theology, per this book, lacked any acknowledgment of egalitarian rights, as in women's or homosexual rights, or even of religious freedoms. I think at most this book can only be seen as a telling of when one should start the revolution, and by what values they should go forward. Honestly, Liberation Theology romanticizes the poor, and essentially inverts the power and oppression, leaving the poor as the powerful oppressors. Liberation Theology at most is one, among many, dogmatic transitional theory to social justice.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short introduction to a tremendously controversial topic. Most people have never heard of liberation theology (although it did make a guest appearance on Glenn Beck's chalkboard over the summer). I have been meaning to do a bit of reading on the topic, and the combination of Lent, more fighting in Israel, and yet another US war finally pushed into picking up this book. The author writes mainly about Central America, and uses the examples of El Salvador and Nicaragua to highlight the basic tenets of liberation theology. Having some familiarity already with the movement's basic premises, I found this to be a highly readable and thought-provoking introduction to the topic. I can see why the managers in the Roman Catholic Church, the Reagan Administration, and the powers and principalities of global capitalism didn't (and don't) like this stuff at all.

Some very challenging ideas here. Much to think about and pray about. My wife and I recently began to sponsor a child in El Salvador through World Vision even as the President visited that sad, battered country today. Oscar Romero, the murdered Archbishop of El Salvador famously said, "we either believe in the God of Life, or we serve the idols of death." A frightening proposition.

[Lisa Kalenkiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up fairly randomly in the library of a monastic retreat center. I didn't know anything about Liberation Theology, but I'm a definite social justice advocate/activist, so I was very interested and glad I read it. I don't think it would be a very convincing read, however, for someone more hardline conservative or skeptical; he throws out some scriptural references but doesn't do any real exegesis. He seems to assume you're on the same page and just need a fire lit under your butt to actually DO something. He does give some very good points about 1st world vs. 3rd world politics, but then kind of undermines himself by making some overly pointed political jabs. I wish he would have delved more appropriately into the criticisms of Liberation Theology, as there are many (which I had to investigate on my own after reading this), instead of just acting like anyone who disagrees is a heartless crook or an ignoramus. I had a great conversation with a woman from S Korea after reading this where liberation theology was also very influential and in many respects successful. She gave me both sides, and ultimately I felt more appreciation for Liberation Theology. I think the author would have been more successful had he done the same.

[Drick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown has a way of simply but clearly laying out the basic tenets of liberation theology in way that is readable and applicable. While I can't say I learned anything new, I appreciated Brown's stories and associations with leading liberation theology figures. In his last chapter written in 1992 after the riots in LA following the Rodney King verdict, he asks if we are in a "KAIROS" moment. The description he gives of 1992 North America is chillingly similar to 2015. He causes me to ask, if we missed the Kairos moment of 1992, are we in yet another such moment?

[Eunsung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was amazing. I especially liked the story about the Palo Alto woman who began to advocate in her church for people to protest against return of Salvadoran refugees. Brown writes, "this can also be called praying with one's feet."

i love books and i love words. there is great power in words when we let the ideas move us to action.

[Ms.soule · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book for its concise description of liberation theology along with anecdotal and historical depictions of the need for this theology. Brief but passionate, emotional but scholarly, this is a book I could hand to any of my friends who have questions about liberation theology or why it’s even important.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to the subject. Motivating, yet academic in its scope. Basically just breaks down the logic behind Christians' social responsibility to society.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

McAfee Brown gives a sort of shallow introduction to the lay reader.

[Mfalco65 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable. This book is such a great explanation fo the emergence of liberation theology.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

life changing