8 October 2022
Gustavo Gutiérrez: A Theology of Liberation
Gustavo Gutiérrez’s A Theology of Liberation (1971) is widely regarded as the foundational book of Latin American liberation theology. Written in the context of poverty, dictatorship and social struggle, it argues that Christianity cannot be reduced to private faith or charity but must involve active participation in the liberation of the poor from unjust social structures. Gutiérrez presents theology as a critical reflection on political and social praxis, insisting that salvation has historical as well as spiritual dimensions. The book helped establish the language of the “preferential option for the poor” and profoundly influenced radical Christian movements, priests, lay activists and social movements across Latin America and beyond.