There's been a lot of talk about statements made by Obama's minister and mentor, Jeremiah Wright. Well, I've heard that these statements are rooted in a doctrine known as Black Liberation Theology. Now I've heard of Liberation Theology. It was the union of Marxism and Catholicism seen in some central/south American countries. I believe it gave rise to the Shinning Path terrorist group. But I've never before heard of a "Black" version of this. Are we talking about a religion based on race, marxism, and Christianity? WTF? Does anyone know anything about this doctrine? Is it common among black churches in the US? Around the world?
I believe that is crap. The Shining Path assassinated several priests and others connected with Liberation Theology, and was/is Maoist rather than Marxist - much less Catholic. The only "terrorism" to come out of Liberation Theology that I know of was some strikes and agitations for land reform, and a concerted opposition to the inroads of foreign corporations in the politics and lives of the rural poor. For a while, in the 80s, the US was basically at war - in the "counter-insrugency" sense - with the Catholic Church in Central and South America. US trained and equipped paramilitaries and National Guards murdered priests, murdered and raped nuns, assassinated trade union leaders, killed journalists and aid workes and clinic nurses and schoolteachers, and created macabre scenes of terrorism in South and Central America - on top of the standard economic muscle re cropland, other resources, etc. The US won - Liberation Theology is as of now pretty much defeated in those palces of US involvement, although I've heard significant Christian socialist and Bible-based populist organizations remain in Brazil and other places not dominated by the US in SA.
I am also pretty sure this is crap. It also sweeps under the rug the work of LT priests and nuns across Latin America who, often at the cost of death, supported the poor and Native Americans against fascist dicatatorships, death squads and often their own church.
