Political Theory of Liberation Theology

John R. Pottenger is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

• Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The Context of Liberation Theology The Religious ContextThe Political Theoretical ContextToward Restoring the Moral Critique: Liberation Theology2. Toward a Methodology for Liberation IntroductionCritique of Academic TheologyLimits and GroundingLiberation Theology as a Process Theology of SocietyConclusion3. The Marxist-Christian Tension IntroductionConservative CriticismsMarxisms and MarxMaintaining the TensionConclusion4. Assessing Latin American Political Economies IntroductionThe World EconomyThe National Security StateLimitations of Liberation Theology's AssessmentsConclusion5. The Ethics of Reform and Revolution IntroductionReformist PoliticsRevolution and ViolenceConclusion6. Ethics and Social Theory IntroductionHuman Nature and PoliticsTheory ConstructionCritical Theory and Liberation TheologyConclusionAppendix: Brief Biographies of Selected Liberation Theologians Notes Bibliography Liberation TheologyRelated TopicsIndex

"This book goes beyond a simple survey of liberation theology to deal with complex issues linking theory and practice in social life. It offers an overview of the central issues raised by liberation theology and presents its methodological implications. The relation of fact and value is explored, and questions are raised about ethical theory."— Virginia L. Muller, University of San Diego