LIFE IN FREEDOM

LIFE IN FREEDOM Liberation Theologies From Asia.
This book is a survey of liberation theologies from the various Asia religions, including Christianity. Liberation theology is often identified in the popular theological mind with Latin America. However theological reflection in the service of the liberation of the poor and the oppressed has been present in Asia also and among thinkers of other religions, besides Christianity. For example, the reflections of Mahatma Gandhi in India, rooting his struggle for social and political freedom in the multi-religious perspectives of his country precede by many decades the emergence of political theology in Europe and liberation theology in Latin America. Asian liberation theologies are born out of the experience of struggle against colonialism, dictatorships of the right and of the left and the social and political oppression of peoples. They seek to lead to integral freedom, economic and political, personal, social and cosmic. They affirm Life in Freedom. Though they have arisen in different religious contexts they can converge in animating the multi-religious poor and oppressed of Asia in their common struggle for life in freedom.

The Minjung (People) Theology of Korea, the Theology of Struggle from the Philippines and the Dalit (Oppressed people) Theology of India have arisen in Christian contexts. The ecological and feminist movements in Asia bring together people of all religions and seek inspiration in their various resources to strengthen their common action. The inspiration offered by each Asian religious tradition, including the cosmic or Primal one, have been spelt out by its followers who have led or inspired liberation movements. This book introduces you to some of these people and their writings: Ali Shariati from Iran, Mawlana Mawdudi from Pakistan and Ashgar Ali Engineer from India for Islam; Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Agnivesh and E.V.R. Periyar from Hinduism; Bilikku Buddhadasa from Thailand, A.T. Ariyaratna from Sri Lanka and Thich Nhat Hanh from Vietnam for Buddhism; Aloysius Pieris from Sri Lanka, Sebastian Kappen, George Soares-Prabhu and M.M.Thomas from India for Christianity. Two chapters deal in a general way with the resources offered by Primal religions and Confucianism. A concluding chapter develops an Asian Christian theology of liberation, as Life in Freedom, but in an inter-religious perspective. This book contributes to the growing inter-religious understanding and appreciation in Asia, but also all over the world, as it highlights the prophetic stream in every religion. Many of these leaders are in dialogue with other religions. Here we see the Asian face of the ongoing struggle of the poor and the oppressed for fullness of life in freedom.
– Michael Amaladoss, SJ