Reviewed Book: McGovern, Arthur F. Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an Assessment. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1989

Cole-Arnal, Oscar

English

Scholars Commons

Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an Assessment

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 17Issue 2 Health and Wholeness Article 1811-1-1991Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward anAssessmentOscar Cole-ArnalFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationCole-Arnal, Oscar (1991) "Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an Assessment," Consensus: Vol. 17 : Iss. 2 , Article 18.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol17/iss2/18200 Consensusof dialogue in India and Canada, the ISKON-Christian encounter, Hinduviews of Christ, Christian views of Hindu devotion, and Hindu and Chris-tian influences on each others’ spiritual practices. Part III concludes withreflections on dialogue and the academic study of religion, the place ofscripture, and two perspectives on the future of Hindu-Christian dialogue.Nearly all the essays talce up the meaning of dialogue and its plaicein religious enterprise and cross-cultural encounters. Not all the under-standings of dialogue agree, but many echo the sentiment expressed byRaimundo Pamikkar (xv) that dialogue can contribute positively to newself-understanding. Others suggest dialogue is an end in itself (Eric J.Sharpeilll), while still others speak of dialogue as a search for community(S. Wesley Ariaxajah:253). For these reflections alone, the volume is worthconsulting. But the work offers much more tham a series of definitions of di-adogue; its essays provide us with a much-needed review of Hindu-Christianencounters. Recommended for anyone interested in interreligious and cross-cultural communication.K.I. KoppedrayerWilfrid Laurier UniversityLiberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an As-sessmentArthur F. McGovernMaryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1989xxii-h 281 pp.Arthur McGovern has done it again. As in his earlier work, Marxism:An American Christian Perspective, the United States Jesuit scholar hasbrought to bear his fine descriptive and analytical skills to his most re-cent study. This time he offers a balanced and convincing defense of LatinAmerican liberation theology. True to his title, he allows significant spacefor descriptions of the positions taken by liberation theology’s more cel-ebrated and vociferous critics, from John Paul II to Catholicism’s morerecent, somewhat notorious convert, Richard Neuhaus. Although the au-thor shares some of these assessments and although he stands on the mainstreet of catholic orthodoxy, his position is not that of an uncommittedmoderate. McGovern is clearly an open supporter of the liberation theolo-gians, and even his own critiques are designed to enhance the liberationists’claims and influence.The author guides his reader in a careful step-by-step approach, de-signed to appeal to someone who is both thoughtful and open. After anoverview of the book, he supplies a brief history of Latin America followedby a definitional treatment of liberation theology. The critics of this newBook Reviews 201and radical perspective are then analyzed. McGovern spends the remainderof the book describing various themes from a liberationist angle: biblicalmotifs, the role of women, spirituality, socio-political perspectives, capital-ism, socialism and ecclesiology. Much time is given to “dependency theory”versus notions of modernization as developed by Western imperialism, tothe impact of Marxist analysis on liberation theology and to the compet-ing value systems of capitalism and socialism. McGovern cuts through theexcessive rhetoric on the subject by his calm and nuanced analysis. Hishighlighting of the Nicaraguan Sandanista government in light of liberationtheology is especially useful. Small biographical sketches at the end of hisbook aie a decided plus.McGovern’s book is feir from perfect. It is sometimes tedious and repet-itive. His excessive caution can be maddening at times. Yet even these neg-ative characteristics translate frequently into strengths, as they add weightto the balanced and thoughtful quality of the work. At a time in our world’shistory when progressive forces axe being heckled or hoimded everywhere,McGovern’s focus is timely and relevant. His hope both to have liberationtheology remain in and be heard by the church is most appropriate. Hisown words underscore the permanent value of the theology he has analyzedso thoroughly: “The message of liberation theology and the developmentof base communities. . . have already made it possible for many poor to ex-perience a new sense of dignity, a new awEireness of God’s special love forthem, and an ability to work in soHdaxity to achieve significant social goEdsat community levels.”Oscax Cole ArnalWaterloo Lutheran SeminaryAdult Children of Alcoholics: Ministers and the Min-istriesRachel Callahan and Rea McDonnellNew York: Paulist Press, 1990In the eeirly 1980s, a new phenomenon in alcohol-related difficultiesWEIS being discussed: adult children of alcoholic parents (or ACoA) seemedto shaxe a number of similar emotional and social difficulties as a directresult of the conditions of their upbringing. For many people such newswas liberating and, as more and more people were discovering that perhapsthere was hope towEirds feeling better, support and self-help groups sprangup and more and more books were published on understanding and helpingthe ACoA.As with any new, exciting trend, there will be both good, caxeful work,and on the other hand, much that is well-intentioned but not very helpful.

Reviewed Book: McGovern, Arthur F. Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an Assessment. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1989

ConsensusVolume 17Issue 1 Adult Education Article 185-1-1991Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward anAssessmentOscar Cole-ArnalFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationCole-Arnal, Oscar (1991) "Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an Assessment," Consensus: Vol. 17 : Iss. 1 , Article 18.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol17/iss1/18156 Consensusand Hindu-Christian encounters in Europe. In exploring current interac-tion, the essays in Part II are wider-ranging. They examine examples of dia-logue in India and Canada, the ISKON-Christian encounter, Hindu views ofChrist, Christian views of Hindu devotion, and Hindu and Christian influ-ences on each others’ spiritual practices. Part HI concludes with reflectionson dialogue and the academic study of religion, the place of scripture, andtwo perspectives on the future of Hindu-Christian dialogue.Nearly all the essays take up the meaning of dialogue and its placein religious enterprise and cross-cultural encounters. Not all the under-standings of dialogue agree, but many echo the sentiment expressed byRaimundo Panikkar (xv) that dialogue can contribute positively to newself-understanding. Others suggest dialogue is an end in itself (Eric J.Sharpe: 111), while still others speak of dialogue as a search for community(S. Wesley Ariarajah:253). For these reflections alone, the volume is worthconsulting. But the work offers much more than a series of definitions of di-alogue; its essays provide us with a much-needed review of Hindu-Christianencounters. Recommended for anyone interested in interreligious and cross-cultural communication.K.I. KoppedrayerWilfrid Laurier UniversityLiberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an As-sessmentArthur F. McGovernMaryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1989xxii + 281 pp.Arthur McGovern has done it again. As in his earlier work, Marxism:An American Christian Perspective^ the United States Jesuit scholar hasbrought to bear his fine descriptive and analytical skills to his most re-cent study. This time he offers a balanced and convincing defense of LatinAmerican liberation theology. True to his title, he allows significant spacefor descriptions of the positions taken by liberation theology’s more cel-ebrated and vociferous critics, from John Paul II to Catholicism’s morerecent, somewhat notorious convert, Richard Neuhaus. Although the au-thor shares some of these assessments and although he stands on the mainstreet of catholic orthodoxy, his position is not that of an uncommittedmoderate. McGovern is clearly an open supporter of the liberation theolo-gians, and even his own critiques are designed to enhance the liberationists’claims and influence.The author guides his reader in a careful step-by-step approach, de-signed to appeal to someone who is both thoughtful and open. After anBook Reviews 157overview of the book, he supplies a brief history of Latin Anaerica followedby a definitional treatment of liberation theology. The critics of this newand radical perspective are then analyzed. McGovern spends the remainderof the book describing various themes from a liberationist angle: biblicalmotifs, the role of women, spirituality, socio-political perspectives, capital-ism, socialism and ecclesiology. Much time is given to “dependency theory”versus notions of modernization as developed by Western imperialism, tothe impact of Marxist analysis on liberation theology and to the compet-ing value systems of capitalism and socialism. McGovern cuts through theexcessive rhetoric on the subject by his calm and nuanced analysis. Hishighlighting of the Nicaraguan Sandanista government in light of libera-tion theology is especially useful. Small biographical sketches at the end ofhis book are a decided plus.McGovern’s book is far from perfect. It is sometimes tedious and repet-itive. His excessive caution can be maddening at times. Yet even these neg-ative characteristics translate frequently into strengths, as they add weightto the balanced and thoughtful quality of the work. At a time in our world’shistory when progressive forces are being heckled or hounded everywhere,McGovern’s focus is timely and relevant. His hope both to have liberationtheology remain in and be heard by the church is most appropriate. Hisown words underscore the permanent value of the theology he has analyzedso thoroughly: “The message of liberation theology and the developmentof base communities. . . have already made it possible for many poor to ex-perience a new sense of dignity, a new awareness of God’s special love forthem, and an ability to work in solidarity to achieve significant social goalsat community levels.”Oscar Cole ArnalWaterloo Lutheran SeminaryAdult Children of Alcoholics: Ministers and the Min-istriesRachel Callahan and Rea McDonnellNew York: Paulist Press, 1990In the early 1980s, a new phenomenon in alcohol-related difficultieswas being discussed: adult children of alcoholic parents (or ACoA) seemedto share a number of similar emotional and social difficulties as a directresult of the conditions of their upbringing. For many people such newswas liberating and, as more and more people were discovering that perhapsthere was hope towards feeling better, support and self-help groups sprangup and more and more books were published on understanding and helpingthe ACoA.

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Liberation Theology and Its Critics: Toward an Assessment

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