scholarly journals Minjung Theology in Contemporary Korea: Liberation Theology and a Reconsideration of Secularization Theory

Religions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Kim
Keyword(s):  
Liberation Theology ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Secularization Theory ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Repeated Calls ◽  
Political Conditions ◽  
Role Of Religion ◽  
Relief Efforts

The Sewol Ferry tragedy in April 2014 has drawn a renewed attention to the role of religion in South Korea. Theologians and religiously-motivated NGOs in Korea at the time and thereafter have called for the need for religion, and religious organizations, to become more actively involved with societal needs, especially after disasters, to help alleviate their pain by providing relief aid and counselling. Such calls for the greater involvement of religion in relief efforts have coincided with Pope Francis’ repeated calls for the Catholic Church’s greater involvement in social affairs on behalf of the poor and the underprivileged. This paper contends that these developments in and outside of Korea provide an opportune time to renew discussion on oft-misunderstood liberation theology. This is because the latter’s advocacy of an interpretation of the teachings of Jesus Christ from the perspective of the poor and the marginalized for the purpose of alleviating unjust economic, social, or political conditions is as compelling today as it was some 60 years ago when it first arose. The paper offers a reassessment of the role of religion in light of liberation theology, arguing that religion can make itself more relevant to people’s lives today by engaging more actively with social issues. The paper will pay special attention to liberation theology in the Korean context, namely minjungshinhak or “people’s theology.” The paper also discusses the implications of liberation theology for secularization theory, arguing, among others, that the former refutes the “decline of religion” thesis of the latter, since liberation theology manifests a different role of religion in contemporary society rather than its diminishing significance.

An Emerging Social Ethics

Pneuma ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 477-499
Author(s):  
Néstor Medina
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Liberation Theology ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Social Ethics ◽  
The Social ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Historical Origins ◽  
Latin American Population

Abstract This article proposes that a new pentecostal social ethic is emerging in the region. Examining recent developments of Pentecostalism in Latin America along with Latin American scholars, I will discuss, in thematic form, some of the recent developments affecting pentecostal movements in the region from revising its historical origins, celebrating its internal diversity, reconsidering political involvement, reclaiming the crucial role of women’s contributions, to developing a social ethics seeking to respond in relevant ways to the social issues confronted by the Latin American population. Though the influence of liberation theology is noticeable, these groups are drawing on the pentecostal experience to reinterpret their relationship with the larger social context and internally. Particular attention is given to the great internal diversity within pentecostal movements in Latin America

scholarly journals Homelessness and Covid-19 in the City of Tshwane: Doing liberation theology undercover – A conversation with Ivan Petrella

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan F. De Beer
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Liberation Theology ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Theological Education ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
The City ◽  
Liberation Theologian

Ivan Petrella argues that the goals of liberation theology can sometimes be better served by doing it undercover. This article reflects on responses to homelessness during Covid-19 in the City of Tshwane, describing and reflecting upon it from the perspective of a researcher-theologian as well as activist-urbanist. It employed two lenses in its reflection: Petrella’s notion of the ‘undercover liberation theologian’, as well as what is known as deliberative public administration theory, as possibly complementary approaches. It traces ways in which people of faith/theologians participated in the City of Tshwane through means other than explicit theological discourse. It implies that such engagement was not less theological but perhaps more strategic, describing that task of the undercover liberation theologian as that of making space, making plans, making known and making change. Ultimately, it calls for a subversion of suspect models of theological education, suggesting that it is in losing ourselves in the messiness of public processes and multiple solidarities with the poor, that the unfree might experience freedom, and liberation theological goals might find concrete expression.Contribution: This article reflects on responses in the City of Tshwane to street homelessness during Covid-19. It unpacks the notion and role of the ‘undercover’ liberation theologian in local political processes, and how losing ourselves in public processes and multiple solidarities with the urban poor, might help gain freedom for the unfree.

Religion in Politics

2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1510-1541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekrem Karakoç ◽  
Birol Başkan
Keyword(s):  
Multilevel Analysis ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
The State ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Mass Education ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Role Of Religion

This study investigates the factors that affect variations in secular attitudes toward politics. The literature suggests that modernization may weaken traditional bonds with religious adherence and the state can assume an important role in this endeavor through mass education, industrialization, and other factors. However, this explanation is incomplete in light of the resurgence of religious movements. This study argues that economic inequality increases the positive evaluation of the role of religion in politics through its effect on religiosity and participation in religious organizations. Employing a multilevel analysis on 40 countries, this study demonstrates that inequality decreases attitudes toward support for two dimensions of public secularization: the secularization of public office holders and the influence of religious leaders in politics. Simultaneously, the effect of modernization on these attitudes varies. The results also suggest that although inequality diminishes secular attitudes of all socioeconomic groups, its effect is nonlinear, with a greater effect on the poor.

Religion in Latin America’s Public Sphere

2021 ◽  
pp. 152-172
Author(s):  
Gustavo S.J. Morello
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Religion And Politics ◽  
Social Functions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Privileged Position ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Role Of Religion

This chapter investigates the role of religion in Latin America’s public sphere. For respondents, religion and politics share the space where power is traded. The privileged position is to challenge the economic order and to generate peaceful relations among the peoples and defend human dignity. Respondents dislike the use of that power to pursue a partisan agenda and to have a privileged voice over other persons. At odds with the laïcité project, respondents welcome religion in the public sphere when it challenges modernity to include the poor, and advocates for human dignity. Religion is cheered as a countercultural force. However, this acceptance of religion’s presence in the public sphere does not mean a resacralization of it. Respondents prefer to keep the differentiation of social functions.

scholarly journals Communication, Coordination, Logistics and the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) During Disaster in Malaysia

2019 ◽  
pp. 1383-1395
Author(s):  
Haslinda A. ◽  
Nazree Ismail ◽  
Nur Hidayah Roslan ◽  
Maimunah Omar
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
The Past ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Relief Efforts ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Training ◽  
Significant Factors

In times of crisis or disaster such as the recent floods of December 2014 in the northern and eastern Malaysian states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Kedah, non-governmental organizations played a significant role in assisting the authorities and government agencies in collecting and providing aid to victims. Under normal circumstances non-governmental organizations vary in what they do and would normally focus on specific issues such as environmental issues, health issues or social issues. However in times of crisis or disaster, these organizations expand their role by assisting authorities with relief efforts ranging from financial assistance to manpower to basic necessities such as food, water, clothing and even logistical assets such as lorries, helicopters and other types of vehicles. The available literature has suggested that individuals, groups and organizations such as non-governmental organizations innovate as seen by countless relief effort activities conducted by non-governmental organizations in times of crisis or disaster in the past. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between communication, coordination, and logistical factors toward the role of NGOs when faced with a crisis in Malaysia. The outcome of the study revealed that coordination and logistics are the main and significant factors contributing to the role of NGOs in times of crisis or disaster. With regard to communication, the findings revealed that this is a significant aspect however it does not contribute towards the role of NGOs in times of crisis. Finally, this study also found that preparation and training contributes to the successful role of NGOs in dealing with crisis or disaster situations, suggesting that more needs to be done in terms of planning, budgeting and training to prepare volunteers. The implications of this study on the surveyed respondents from various non-governmental organizations in terms of experience, requirements, support and issues are discussed.

scholarly journals Redefining the Role of Religion in Contemporary Society: Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al-Tayyeb

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-124
Author(s):  
Heri Setyawan
Keyword(s):  
Social Transformation ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Religious Leader ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Pope Francis ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Role Of Religion

This paper discusses the position of religion in contemporary society by examining the religious thoughts of two prominent religious leaders: Pope Francis from the Catholic Church and Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al-Tayyeb from Al-Azhar University, Egypt. The meeting between Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al-Tayyeb in Abu Dhabi (February 2019) is a starting point for understanding the process by which the two religious leaders redefined the role of religion in society. Moreover, their responses to contemporary social issues such as terrorism, ecological crisis, war, and social injustices also show how they redefined the role of religion. While each religious leader formulates theological account into its religious tradition, it is obvious that the role of religion for social transformation and humanity is shown to be the central concern of the two religious’ leaders. The two religious traditions go further to put religion as a fundamental agent for society transformation.

scholarly journals The Church, the Pulpit, and the Poor. the Role of Preaching in Poor Relief Efforts in the Thinking of Samuel Mccomb (1864-1938)

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Simuț Ciprian
Keyword(s):  
Poor People ◽  
Poor Relief ◽  
Spiritual Guidance ◽  
Moral Code ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Human Value ◽  
Relief Efforts ◽  
The Church

The problem of the poor has been a constant in the life of nations. There have always been poor people to whom society, governments, and the Church have been looking in various ways across the ages. One important aspect is the way the Church has behaved in relation to the poor, because it is the institution that preaches a certain kind of moral code, and a certain kind of human value. This paper focuses on the role of preaching and the role of the Church in poor relief efforts, as presented in the writings of Samuel McComb (1864-1938). The main argument in the thought of McComb is that the Church will always need to be involved in poor relief efforts, but not simply by helping the poor with material needs, but also by offering spiritual guidance. These efforts should be coupled with the preparing of the believers to be directly involved in poor relief, based on a moral code, which is presented and explained from the pulpit.

Welfare and the State

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat Thane
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
The State ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Role Of The State ◽  
Political Conditions ◽  
British State

The chapter examines development and change in the welfare role of the British state and the main influences upon it in the context of changing social, economic, and political conditions. It explores the Poor Law and its reform in the early nineteenth century and challenges to it later in the century; the growing role of the state in such fields as education, public health, and labour conditions through the nineteenth century; its more rapid growth through the twentieth century; and finally the challenges to state welfare from the 1980s. Throughout, the shifting but always significant relationship between the state and the voluntary sector in provision for welfare is described and discussed.

AN AUTHENTIC OVERVIEW OF THE EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PROSPECTS OF MUSLIM WOMEN

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-62
Author(s):  
Rimmi Datta ◽  
Jayanta Mete
Keyword(s):  
Women's Education ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Muslim Women ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Family Culture ◽  
Educational Rights ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Role Of Religion

Consciousness, knowledge, and understanding in Islam are a fundamental prerequisite for all Muslims to allow them to affirm, think, and behave under the principles of religion. Muslim women and girls have been seen for years as potential objects of modernization and modernity. Popular belief has arisen that, for a nation to be prosperous, girls need to be educated and will raise their nation from its broad range of social issues. Women's education was indispensable to the discourses that pursued to modernize emerging and Muslim societies. Muslim women thought it was just as important to educate girls as it was to educate boys, and that they acknowledged parental and marital influence over the rights of women to be educated and to work. As Muslim women move up the educational ladder, the role of religion as a predictor of academic achievement is dwindling. This emphasis on the experiences of educated Muslim women exacerbates the prevailing narrative of modernity that portrays women's education and gender equality as an expression of individual women's choice and free will against any patriarchal structures of family, culture, and Islam. Use qualitative approach This paper deals with the historical perspective of Muslim woman's education, their educational rights, curriculum development of Muslim education, and the importance of Muslim female education

Right hand up, left hand down: The New Satanists of rock n’ roll, evil and the underground war on the abject

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
American Slavery ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Radical Evil ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Rock N Roll ◽  
Role Of Religion

Satan has long served as the ultimate evil, the world’s primary scapegoat. The Devil’s role in music, especially extreme music and heavy metal, has been to shock, terrify and enrage. But what if the imagery and ideology of Satan is used to combat an immoral societal evil? Is it then possible that the radical evil could itself become a force for good? This article intends to examine the music and philosophy of three modern bands, dubbed The New Satanists: Ghost, Twin Temple and Zeal & Ardor. Each band uses varying degrees of satanic influence to raise awareness of their perceived objectionable and abject issues in society: a harsh and unjust patriarchy, the Christian conversions and role of religion during the era of American slavery and suppression of individuality from the Catholic Church. Through the examination of these bands, social issues and Jean Baudrillard’s concept of symbolic evil, this article will examine theories of traditional evil potentially becoming a force for good when it combats the moral sickness existent in society. An alternate perspective – that of Satan as a liberator – could serve as a cure for a gamut of ills.

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