The Commonalities and Divergences between Asian Theology and Latin American Theology: Focused on the Notion of Liberation

Abstract

A theology reflects a particular situation. Emerging from a particular social reality, theology exposes the truth of a situation and then brings this concrete reality to bear on the Bible and all religious thought. Asian theology and Latin American theology are based on the self-awakening of the poor in Asia and Latin America as well as their struggles for survival. Both have their own voices and are based on specific and particular experiences. Both theologies refused to uncritically accept European-based theology. They emerge from political, economical, and religious-cultural situations different from those which constitute the basis for European and American theologies. Even though the content and method of Asian Theology and Latin American Theology are distinct, they share the goal of liberation and empowerment of those who have suffered for centuries in poverty and political oppression as a result of long periods of colonialism the people of Asia and the pueblo of Latin America. In this paper, I will explore the commonalities and divergences between Asian theology and Latin American theology, focusing specifically on the meaning of liberation in the work of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT), in particular two continents Asian theology emphasizes on liberation from the Western Christianity and Latin American theology put emphasis on political and social liberation. It tells us that it is difficult to define the meaning of liberation. Because, according to given political, economic, cultural, and religious situations, its content of methodology is exposed differently. In this respect, the theologies of two continents should try to recognize each different situation seriously. Finally, the theologies of two continents have generally used social analysis brought from Europe, as a theological methodology. The problem to be raised is how Third World theologies can create the methodology of their own social analysis for liberation theologies. In addition, the important problem is how the EATWOT can carry out not only dialogue but also solidarity on different issues on liberation among theologians of two continents, not imposing their own theological methodology.