Divine Revolution: Salvation & Liberation in Catholic Thought

by Dean Brackley

A compelling exploration of one of the central issues - if not the central issue - facing theology in our the relation between transcendent "salvation" and temporal "liberation." What does the salvation that the church proclaims mean for the poor of the world? In Divine Revolution Dean Brackley presents in a comprehensive yet manageable way what Catholic theology has to say about this complex and urgent topic. He addresses the historical as well as the systematic dimensions of the question, providing insights that point toward an understanding of the issues that challenge conservative and liberal interpretations alike.
In a work of great daring and clarity, Brackley surveys the confusion surrounding the social-historical dimension of salvation in Catholic thought. He shows the irony of the fact that, after 2,000 years, what "salvation" means for the poor in relationship to their concrete plight remains a quaestio disputata for official, Magisterial teaching. Going deeply into the relationship of salvation and liberation, Bracken explores the thought of Maritain, Rahner, and Gutierrez to demonstrate how the synbolon of the Reign of God that Jesus announces transcends the tired theological distinctions of all sides in the debate. Drawing from developments in feminist and Protestant theology, as well as contemporary social theory, Divine Revolution offers a fresh understanding of what it means to participate in God's revolutionary reign.

197 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996