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In 2007 and 2008, a tense and controversial debate took place in Brazil about the theoretical status of Liberation Theology, proved by Clodovis Boff's scathing criticism of what he considers an "inversion of principle" in this theology, with serious consequences for faith, for evangelization and for theology itself. One of the fundamental points of this debate concerns the "starting point" (foundation, source, principle, arché) of theology. And this is the subject of our study in this work. Without entering directly into the polemics of that debate, it is interesting here to return to the problematic of the "starting point" of theology that is at the origin of this debate. For this, we will present the position of Clodovis Boff and Gustavo Gutiérrez who express well the main theses/postures on this issue; we will explain the theoretical-theological conflict between them, as well as the theoretical-epistemological assumptions that condition and sustain them; and we will highlight the theological-pastoral implications of these positions. With this, while we will make explicit a theoretical-theological conflict in the aforementioned debate on the theoretical status of liberation theology (theoretical assumptions), we will address a fundamental and decisive issue of theological work (departure point). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mature fruit of the process of ecclesial renewal unleashed by John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI's Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio deals with the problem of "development of peoples" in a double aspect: "integral development of man" and "development solidarity with humanity". In addition to taking up and developing insights from John XXIII and the Council, this encyclical is attuned to the great problems and challenges of poor countries, taking them as the center of the social question and the pastoral concerns of the Church: the greatest challenge of our time, a question of solidarity and social justice and the condition of peace on earth. And it will have a decisive importance in the II Conference of the Latin American Bishops in Medellín in 1968. This work, as its subtitle indicates, intends to be a guide for reading the encyclical. It begins by indicating the socio-ecclesial context in which it arises and to which it seeks to respond. It gives a panoramic presentation of the structure and content of the text. It concludes by highlighting some important points for its proper understanding and interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se ha vuelto cada vez más común hablar de la teología como hermenéutica. En amplios sectores de la comunidad teológica esta tesis aparece como algo evidente e indiscutible, como un supuesto o axioma teórico-epistemológico que prescinde de mayores problematizaciones y requiere, a lo sumo, de la exposición del pensamiento de sus principales representantes. Una de las referencias más importantes de la tesis de "la teología como hermenêutica" es sin duda el teólogo dominico francés Claude Geffré. Este estudio se centra en su pensamiento y quiere indicar la necesidad de un diálogo crítico-creativo con su concepción de la teología. Analiza los principales escritos en los que presenta, justifica y desarrolla su concepción de la "teología como hermenêutica" e indica los aspectos problemáticos y/o discutibles de esta concepción. Por tanto, tiene un carácter crítico-analítico. El texto comienza presentando su tesis del "giro hermenéutico de la teologia" e indica los supuestos teóricos y algunas implicaciones teológicas de esta tesis. Concluye discutiendo algunos puntos problemáticos y/o insuficientemente elaborados de la tesis y, con ello, señalando la necesidad de un debate teórico más amplio y profundo sobre el estatus teórico de la teología como intellectus y de su aspecto o momento hermenéutico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Como intellectus fidei, la teología se constituye como intelección de una fe que consiste en la participación y colaboración en el plan salvífico y liberador de Dios para la humanidad y como un servicio intelectual crítico-creativo a su dinamismo histórico. Es esta conexión visceral con una fe liberadora (fe y liberación) la que hace de la teología un poder de liberación que conecta con los más diversos poderes/dinamismos históricos de la liberación (teología y liberación). De esta manera, la especificidad intelectual de la teología y su carácter de momento de fe se afirman simultáneamente. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As intellectus fidei, theology is constituted as an intellectualisation of a faith that consists of a sharing in and a collaboration with God's salvational and liberational purposes for humanity and also of being at the intellectual and critical service of its historical dynamic. It is this visceral linkage with a liberational faith (faith and liberation), which makes theology a power for liberation connected to the broadest range of historic powers and dynamics of liberation (theology and liberation). Through this linkage, theology's intellectual specificity and essence of being a moment of faith are simultaneously affirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If technology has always been a fundamental element in human life, it has become in the moderncontemporary world the determining element of our life in all its dimensions, that is, it has become the place from which and in function of which everything from macro to micro is thought and regulated. This is what Pope Benedict XVI calls the "technocratic cultural horizon" and Pope Francis calls it the "technocratic paradigm". The text makes a philosophical-theological reflection of technological power in the current world from its implications and its socio-environmental challenges. It begins with a reflection on the importance and place of technology in human life (anthropological approach). It presents the fundamental characteristics of modern technology from its intrinsic relationship with science and with the dominant forces of society (relationship technology-science-power). It finishes with some thoughts of theological-pastoral significance from its implications and its socio-environmental challenges (theological approach). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 19 to 23 November 2019, there took place the 24th General Assembly of Caritas Brazil took place in Teresina - PI, having as theme: "Well Living: Hope, Resistance and Prophecy" and as motto: "Rise up, raise your head, because it is near your deliverance" (Lk 21:28). The reflection that follows, made in the opening panel of the assembly, situates Caritas in the current societal context, based on the cries of both the poor and the earth, confronts it with the mission of building the Well-Living in a process of hope, resistance and prophecy, and concludes by pointing out some fundamental questions or challenges in the exercise of its mission in the current historical context - a kind of "minimum agenda" that indicates necessary and urgent paths and/or tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The 57th CNBB General Assembly took place in Aparecida do Norte between 1st and 10th of May 2019. In this assembly, the bishops approved a document called 'General Guidelines for the Church's Evangelizing Action in Brazil (DGAE)'. It provides general guidelines for the Church's evangelizing action in Brazil for the 2019-2023 period. It is an important document since it ofiers guidelines for pastoral planning processes in the different CNBB regions, various dioceses and parishes of the Brazilian Church. In order to promote a "creative reception" of the guidelines in the different contexts and sectors of the church in our country, we offer a comprehensive overview of the document, as well as point out some ambiguities and challenges presented in the document. If not taken seriously, these could well jeopardize the effectiveness of the evangelizing action the document intends to guide and foster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the most important characteristic of the Medellin Conference (the centrality of the poor in the Church) and its relevance (present clamor and resistance). It begins by showing how the process of reception of the Second Vatican Council in Latin America comes from the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes and its incipient theology of the "signs of the times" through a process of insertion of the Church in Latin American reality, its commitment with the poor and marginalized, as well as their struggles for liberation. Next, the text deals with the current relevance of such ecclesial dynamism, by indicating some echoes and / or present expressions (old and new ones) of the cries and resistances of the poor and marginalized in our continent -a sign of the times par excellence, to which the Church needs to be always attentive and with which it must viscerally be involved and in the service of which it must place itself with all its strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binary evangelization - human promotion has developed within a process whose culmination was the Second Vatican Council and whose elements were: the Church's slow and tense engagement in social questions, the reconciliation with the modern world, the overcoming of the dualism natural vs. supernatural etc. This process, in turn, reached higher levels and bigger proportions within the ecclesial dynamism inaugurated by itself. In the Latin American Church this binary bore particular relevance and was translated in terms of liberation. Thus, a proper understanding of this binary means situating it in the context of a large process of ecclesial renewal, elucidating its Latin American specificity, and, by way of conclusion, at least briefly, alluding to the centrality as well as to the new dimensions that it has assumed in Pope Francis's pontificate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 50 years celebration of the Conference of Medellin (1968) coincides with the 5 years of Pope Francis' pastoral ministry (2013). This chronological coincidence is a prime occasion to clarify and emphasize the theological-pastoral coincidence between both. It helps to understand better the process of ecclesial renewal triggered by Francis and the current relevance of the ecclesial dynamism, unleashed by Medellin. First, the text highlights the importance of Medellin and of Francis in the Church and in society. It then explains the fundamental theological/pastoral perspective of both. And, from that perspective, it addresses some of the major challenges the Church is faced with today in her mission of evangelization: challenges regarding the understanding and setup of the Church and her mission (Ecclesiology), and the appeals and demands that spring from our present historical situation (signs of the times). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the problematic of the philosophical approach about God, emphasizing its importance in philosophy and presenting, from philosophers of different epochs and perspectives, three theoretical models of philosophical approach about God: cosmological or naturalistic (Thomas Aquinas), anthropological-subjectivist (René Descartes) and praxical (Xavier Zubiri). From each of these approaches the article explains its fundamental characteristics, presents its formulation in a certain philosopher and concludes with a critical appreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the relationship between theology and philosophy, the theologies of liberation, or rather, the philosophical mediation of these theologies. This theme has not been studied or even silenced. There is practically no study on it. At most, there is some reference or comment about the influence of a philosopher or philosophy on some concrete liberation theology. This is already a good indication of the non-importance or the (peripheral) place of philosophical mediation in these theologies. This article begins by showing how, with very few exceptions, this subject has either not been thematized an developed, or it was only indicated and/or outlined in liberation theologies (historiographical approach). Secondly, this paper indicates, without further development, the importance and place of philosophical mediation, as well as its necessity and contribution to what to do, and how to contribute to the product of these theologies (systematic approach). It is not intended here to develop or even to outline a concrete philosophical mediation for the theologies of liberation. We simply want to problematize the issue in its historical and in its fundamental theoretical structure. From this we intend to place the need and the challenge of developing this important and necessary mediation in the global process of the intelligence of the faith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering what confers new relevance to the Liberation Theology (TdL), this text emphasizes: the silent theoretical conflict between liberation theologians, which runs through the history of this theological movement; Pope Francis's project of "a poor Church for the poor", which renews the intuitions that are on the basis of TdL; and participation of believers from different traditions in struggles for justice in the world, which makes it urgent to develop liberation theologies. Based on this context, the author proposes to address some topics that concern the epistemological foundations of TdL: spirituality and ecclesiality, praxis interest and orientation, and social place. The praxis-theoretical complexity of the so called TdL is also highlighted. According to the author, from these issues mentioned above, the social place of theology is, indeed, the most conflictive aspect, although it is the most biblical, prophetic and effective of TdL. Finally, some current challenges to TdL, related to its theoretical and theological status, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most central and decisive points of Xavier Zubin's philosophy concerns what he calls the "problem of God in human life" or the "theologal problem of man". It refers to the insistence on showing that there is, in human life, a framework or dimension that involves and gives access to the reality of God, as the ultimate foundation of reality, regardless of how this foundation is comprehended (God, pure facticity, unknown reality), and whatever position on the issue is taken (theism, atheism, agnosticism). In a condensed but systematic way, this article presents the first aspect of the Zubirian approach of the problem of God in human life, whatever is the theologal dimension of man from which he philosophically confronts the issue of the history of religions, particularly Christianity. First, this article explains the meaning of "theological dimension of man". It then follows with the three steps or stages of the analysis that Zubiri makes of this particular dimension: human reality; problem of divine reality; man, experience of God. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the issue of Christianity in a pluralistic society on the basis of the book "If God Were a Human Rights Activist", by Boaventura de Sousa Santos. In this book the author confronts the challenges that the "movements that demand the presence of religion in the public sphere" place for human rights in the context of "ecology of conceptions of human dignity." This article begins by presenting the problem of Christianity in a pluralistic society and indicating two fundamental forms of dialogue and interaction between religious traditions and society as a whole. The text goes on to show, from the aforementioned book, how traditions and religious movements are (or can be) a privileged place of affirmation and defense of human dignity and how theologies that sustain them constitute a 'defense grammar of human dignity. The article concludes by showing how the affirmation and defense of human dignity, understood and lived in the context of social struggles for justice, constitute the core of the Christian experience of God or, in any case, one of its fundamental features or marks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the issue of the relationship between theology and the social sciences. For this purpose, the author seeks to formulate the terms of the relationship of these two areas of Knowledge, highlighting the importance, the role and the place of the social sciences in the development of the theological discourse and of the theological product. At the beginning of the text the author presents a discussion on the relationship between theology and the social sciences in Latin America in recent decades through its main representatives: Gustavo Gutierrez and Clodovis Boff, Juan Luis Segundo and Ignacio Ellacuria. The paper also presents a systematic outline of the fundamental theoretical framework of the relationship between theology and the social sciences, showing that this relationship binds to the knowledge of the reality in which faith is placed. In conclusion, the texts highlights that faith must be considered theologically on three levels: with the social dimension of the Kingdom of God, which is an issue of Christian Theology; with the social character of theology as a theory; with the ideological suspicion and with the process of liberation of theology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to deepen reflect the bases for a systematic and thorough development of the theme of interreligious dialogue for a culture of peace. The first task is to understand what is culture of peace, by analyzing the terms culture and peace. The second, is to reflect on interreligious dialogue and its apprehension nowadays. Finally, pointing to the interreligious dialogue can contribute to the establishment of a culture of peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]