Liberation Theology and Praxis in Contemporary Latin America - by Pablo Bradbury & Niall H D Geraghty (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Focusing on the lived experiences and spiritual and embodied practices of those engaged in social action in Latin America, this book's diverse, interdisciplinary contributions seek to re-evaluate the history and legacy of liberation theology in examining religious praxis in the region from the 1960s to the present day.

Review Quotes

'Not only [is] the publication ... profoundly timely, but it also underscores the central arguments of [liberation movements]. ... It considers the clerical-centric character of liberation theology, its insights in the social sciences and arts, and its engagement with human rights, ecology, class, and even architecture. Running through the essays is the fundamental question of praxis as integral to a living liberationist perspective.'

-Gavin O'Toole, Latin American Review of Books, UK

'The book ... assumes great relevance with the shifting landscape of the Catholic Church under Pope Francis... It presents a compelling case for (the Church's) ongoing evolution, demonstrating how it intersects with contemporary struggles for justice, gender equality, environmental activism and human rights. Through a series of interdisciplinary contributions, the book highlights the enduring relevance of liberation theology's core concerns... An essential read for scholars of religion, history and Latin American studies, as well as for activists, and policymakers seeking to understand the enduring impact of liberationist thought.'

-Stefan van der Hoek, Research Associate, Research Center for Religion and Education (RCRE), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.

'This important contribution is a welcome reminder of the enduring importance of Liberation Theology, for which we have to congratulate the authors and editors. Studies on topics ranging from an ethnography of waste-pickers to architecture, to human rights, to the methodology of participatory research, and the more theological spheres of ecofeminism, demonstrate its continued relevance and the need to include this book in courses on Latin American thought well beyond the study of religion alone.'

- David Lehmann, Emeritus Professor of Social Science, University of Cambridge, UK

About the Author

Pablo Bradbury completed his PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2017. Since then, he has held a visiting fellowship at ILAS, School of Advanced Study, as well as taught at both the University of Liverpool and the University of Greenwich International College. Niall H.D. Geraghty is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow and lecturer in Latin American cultural studies at University College London.