Liberation theology is a movement emphasizing social justice and the poor. It emerged in Latin America in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a response to poverty and oppression. It was a response to injustice. It was a response to dictatorship. It was a response to inequality. It was a response to suffering. It was a response to the cry of the poor. It was a response to the gospel. It was a response to the church. It was a response to the world. It was a response to God. It was a response to liberation.

Liberation theology was founded by Gustavo Gutierrez. He wrote A Theology of Liberation in 1971. He argued that the church must take a preferential option for the poor. He argued that theology must be done from the perspective of the poor. He argued that the gospel is about liberation. It is liberation from sin. It is liberation from poverty. It is liberation from oppression. It is liberation from injustice. It is liberation from death. It is liberation for life. It is liberation for freedom. It is liberation for love. It is liberation for peace. It is liberation for justice. It is liberation for God. It is liberation theology.

Liberation theology themes

• Preferential option for the poor: God favors the marginalized.
• Social justice: the gospel demands justice.
• Structural sin: systems oppress people.
• Praxis: theology is reflection on action.
• Base communities: small groups for Bible study and action.
• Liberation: God liberates the oppressed.

Liberation theology is controversial. Conservatives criticize it. They say it is Marxist. They say it politicizes the gospel. They say it replaces salvation with social action. They say it is heresy. Liberals defend it. They say it is biblical. They say it is prophetic. They say it is the gospel. They say it is the church's mission. They say it is the cry of the poor. They say it is the voice of the oppressed. They say it is the work of God. They say it is liberation theology. The debate continues. It is the debate between orthodoxy and orthopraxy. It is the debate between faith and works. It is the debate between heaven and earth. It is the debate between the soul and the body. It is the debate between the church and the world. It is the debate between God and the poor. It is the debate. It is liberation theology.