Handbook of U.S. Theologies of Liberation

A typical Introduction to Theology often emphasizes the viewpoints of Western, Eurocentric male theologians, sidelining the perspectives of other cultural and ethnic groups. These diverse voices are frequently relegated to footnotes or elective cours... Read more

A typical Introduction to Theology often emphasizes the viewpoints of Western, Eurocentric male theologians, sidelining the perspectives of other cultural and ethnic groups. These diverse voices are frequently relegated to footnotes or elective courses, allowing students from the dominant culture to graduate without exposure to alternative theological viewpoints. This imbalance reflects a notion of objectivity that favors Eurocentric perspectives, perpetuating the myth that these are more objective and legitimate. In reality, all theological perspectives are shaped by specific social, cultural, and historical contexts. Therefore, they are inherently contextual and subject to the experiences of their creators.Handbook of U.S. Theologies of Liberation addresses this imbalance by presenting Christian concepts from the vantage point of marginalized communities in the United States. It surveys various forms of liberation theology rooted in African American, Amerindian, Asian American, feminist, gay/lesbian, and Hispanic experiences. It's important to note that no single unified theological perspective emerges from these marginalized spaces; instead, there are numerous variations within and among these groups. The Contributors: God: JoAnne Marie TerrellChrist: Carter HeywardThe Holy Spirit: Elizabeth Conde-FrazierTrinity: Luis G. PedrajaChurch: Stacey M. Floyd-ThomasAnthropology: Andrea SmithScripture: Miguel A. De La TorreEthics: Darryl M. TrimiewSin: Andrew Sung ParkSpirituality: Karen Baker-FletcherEschatology: Luis N. Rivera-PaganPART 2: CONTEXTUAL ESSAYSLatin American Liberation Theology: Phillip BerrymanAfrican Americans: Will ColemanHispanics: Edwin David AponteAsian Americans: Seung Ai YangBlack Theology: Dwight N. HopkinsLatino/a Theology: Justo L. GonzálezAsian American Theology: Fumitaka MatsuokaAmerican Indian Traditions: Tink TinkerFeminist Theology: Karen K. SeatLesbian and Gay Theologies: Daniel T. SpencerTheology of the Poor: Deborah W. LittleEnvironmental Racism: Steven Bouma-PredigerPostcolonialism & Liberation: Musa W. Dube Less