Black theology versus black spirituality and black faith: The centrality of spirituality and faith in black theology of liberation in the South African context

Olehile A Buffel

doi:10.4102/hts.v77i3.6794

Abstract

Black theology, which is linked to black power in the context of the United States of America and black consciousness in the context of South Africa is often regarded as having nothing to do with spirituality, faith and salvation. It is often regarded by critics as radical, militant and political. In some circles its theological character is questioned. Advocates of liberation theology, past and present are accused of mixing religion with politics. The article traces the history of black theology, as part of liberation theology, which started in the 1960s in three contexts, namely Latin America, United States of America and South Africa. The article argues that spirituality, faith and salvation are central to black theology of liberation. The critical theological reflection that black theology of liberation is all about happens in the context of the spiritual journey of the poor believer and oppressed.Contribution: The contribution that this article makes is to serve as a corrective discourse that rebuts the mistaken accusation that black liberation theology has nothing to do with spirituality and faith. The article makes a direct link between spirituality and faith on the one hand and on the other hand liberating Christian praxis of the poor in their spiritual journey, in the context of South Africans as they struggle to liberate themselves amid poverty, service delivery struggles and COVID-19 and its implications.

Highlights

On the face of it, black theology is often dismissed as political ideology
The truth of the matter is, as Leonardo Boff once pointed out in the context of Latin American Liberation Theology, ‘At the roots of the theology of liberation we find a spirituality, a mysticism: the http://www.hts.org.za encounter with the Lord’
The article attempted to trace liberation theology and black theology from the beginning of the use of the expression liberation theology. It argued that liberation theology is political and radical, but spirituality and faith are important to the poor and oppressed as they struggle in the context of poverty

Summary

Introduction

On the face of it, black theology is often dismissed as political ideology. Its theological nature is often questioned. That is certainly the case in the context of black theology of liberation in South Africa where there is an abundance and depth of spirituality among the poor and oppressed. Liberation theology arises in a context where people become aware of their own situations, their socio-economic and political dynamics (Boesak 1979:169).

Results

Conclusion