Theology of Poverty - 3073 Words

Theology of Poverty: Analysis of the Historical Christian Response to Poverty in America, in the Context of our Biblical Calling By Jonathan Yang Professor: Dr. Victor Ezigbo Course: Christian Theology (THE 201) November 21, 2011 Bethel University Table of Content I. Intro A. Statement of problem pg. 1 B. Thesis Statement C. Statement of Relevance II. Two major Opposing View A. Prosperity Gospel 1. Explanation 2. Argument I 3. Weaknesses/critiques B. Holistic Perspective 1. Explanation 2. Argument I 3. Weaknesses/critiques III. Person Position IV. Conclusion I. Introduction Statement of Problem Poverty has always been a very prevalent issue†¦show more content†¦Consequently, this issue urges me to seek a more holistic approach to poverty and spread such understanding to be constantly lived out by followers of Christ; that faith without works is dead, and vice versa (James 2:14-26). Within this paper, I’ll explore and discuss these two opposing perspectives/response to poverty, in doing so I’ll come up with an conclusion that will readily help a Christian to better understand why he/she is responsible to the poor. II. Two Major Opposing Views A. Prosperity Gospel Perhaps one of the most debated â€Å"gospel† within the history of protestant church; is known as the Prosperity Gospel. Believers of such â€Å"gospel† believe in the intertwining of economic and faith. That one who is faithful to God would receive financial and economical â€Å"blessings† upon his/her life, therefore the â€Å"fruits† of one’s faith is widely connected with monetary gains. Consequently, the more faithful one is to God the more abundant of monetary â€Å"blessings† that one would receive. This view connects the concepts of one’s â€Å"faithfulness† with socio-economic status; the idea that one’s current poor socio-economic status is due to the unfaithfulness within or rather the existence of lingering sins within one’s life. In contrast, those who are more â€Å"faithful† and have lessShow MoreRelatedHistory Of South American Poverty And The Development Of Liberation Theology1451 Words   |  6 PagesLiberation Theology â€Å"But the poor person does not exist as an inescapable fact of destiny. His or her existence is not politically neutral, and it is not ethically innocent. The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible. They are marginalized by our social and cultural world. They are the oppressed, exploited proletariat, robbed of the fruit of their labor and despoiled of their humanity. Hence the poverty of the poor is not a call to generous relief actionRead MoreEssay on Liberation Theology in Latin America1734 Words   |  7 Pagessense of â€Å"consciousness† amongst the inhabitants of the Latin American countries. The industrial growth greatly benefited the middle-class and the working-class; however, the poor were driven into shantytowns and rural areas. To illustrate the great poverty of this time in Latin America, people living in â€Å"shantytowns† resided in vast settlements built of cardboard and other available materials such as metal and sheets of plastic. These â€Å"towns† frequently lacked proper sanitation. One could imagine howRead MoreLiberation Theology Essay865 Words   |  4 PagesJeremy Partin I. Title Page II. Thesis Page III. Introduction Liberation theology in Latin America was first introduced in the late 1960’s, although it became famous after the writing of Gustavo Gutierrez. The roots of liberation theology can be traced back to Europe because Catholic priests were sent there to go to school. It was there where they became radicalized and sent back to Latin America. This radicalization led many to start thinking differently, including Gutierrez. He and othersRead MoreTheological Reflection on the Root Causes of Poverty Essay641 Words   |  3 Pagescontemporary modern and global context, theology more concretely understood, is critical reflection on historical praxis. This definition emphasizes human action (praxis) as the point of departure for all reflection and as the determining factor in our encounter with the Lord and with other humans. Our actions in history (past, present, and future) shape has to shape our theological reflection and understanding. Today’s society has many problems such as poverty that causes numinous members of the societyRead MoreAfter being established in the 1930’s, St George’s crypt in Leeds managed to provide a slow and1100 Words   |  5 Pageslifetime. From looking at this contextually, we are able to look at this charity in relation to the ideas of liberation theology. This concept became very popular throughout history, giving a main focus to the actions of Christians in a community to those who are treated wrongly, not however, by a fault of their own but the structural sin of where they in fact live. This theology provides support in a situation of oppression and discrimination towards all members of society of which this occurs. GustavoRead MoreLiberation Theology Essay1157 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction According to Enns (2008), liberation theology attempts to infer the holy writ through the plight of the poor. This movement originated from South America in the early 1950s when Marxism was the most popular theory among the poor. It was a response to the ill-treatment and poverty facing the ordinary people. It dealt with the issue of distribution of wealth among people in order to upgrade the economic status in life. This movement had strong Romanian Catholic roots bolstered in ColombiaRead MoreA Christian Theology Of Peace949 Words   |  4 Pagesworries. Peace is essential to Christianity, but what is a Christian theology of peace? A Christian theology of peace means love among all people, serenity that helps individuals see the right path of life and hope. Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God, walked the earth trying to achieve peace for humanity. Jesus Christ suffered for humanity so that humans could live in peace with one another and with God. A Christian theology of peace can bring individuals from different religions, ethnicity,Read MoreLatin America and the Catholic Church Essay746 Words   |  3 Pagesminded Catholics of the country became hopeful that the pope would somehow lend his support to the revolutionary cause. The people understood that Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church disfavored the Marxist principles underscoring Liberation Theology. But they were hopeful that he would at least offer some words of encouragement by voicing his support and compassion for the thousands of Nicaraguans who had suffered and died at the hands of the oppressive regime (Hoyt, 1996). By doing so, perhapsRead MoreThe Relationship Between Philosophy And Theology1444 Words   |  6 PagesToday, philosophy and theology are contrasted by some members of society, specifically those who think that faith and reason can never coincide. Other people, though, see the two subjects of study as collaborative instead. Similar to how as i ntellectuals of our Church today support this relationship, the intellectuals Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure also reinforced it in the thirteenth century. However, both Aquinas and Bonaventure have their own (sometimes differing) opinions on what the true relationshipRead MoreSocio-Cultural Oppression To Dalit. A)Inter-Caste Marriage.1565 Words   |  7 Pagesfaiths and devotions. He tried to enlarge the liberation theology in Latin America. In fact, Freire illustrated the catholic liberation theology and Marxist thoughts to create ideas of well-known literacy education for individual and social liberation and justice. When Harvard educational Review published a recapitulation of his essays, his work became popular all around the world especially India and Brazil. Freire highlighted liberation theology through his Pedagogy of the Oppressed and it widened

The Cause Of The Civil War Essay - 1940 Words

Kelah Lehart Mr. Henkel American History I October 14, 2016 The Causes of the Civil War The American Civil War divided the nation because there were tensions between the North, non-slavery states, and the South that focused on the expansion of slavery. The South believed that Abraham Lincoln planned to eliminate slavery which would destroy the growth of cotton. Eleven southern states then seceded from the Union, and became known as the Confederate States of America. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, the South rebelled and sought to attack the Union. The war broke out on April 12, 1861 in South Carolina when the Confederate attacked the Union soldiers at Fort Sumter. The war was fought from 1861-1865 and extended as far north as Maryland and Pennsylvania, west to Mississippi, east to the Atlantic and south to the Gulf of Mexico. There were approximately 620,000 causalities and it ended with a union victory when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. The cause of the civil war has been a debated topic for years, because there was mo re than one cause of the Civil War including: Economic Differences between the North and South, the Abolition Movement, slavery, and Abraham Lincoln’s election; however, the primary cause was the expansion of slavery and secession. Economic differences between the North and South were one cause of the Civil War. Even though the people still owned and worked their farms, the North was becoming more and more industrial. Instead of usingShow MoreRelatedCauses of the Civil War951 Words   |  4 PagesCAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR In 1860, the world s greatest nation was locked in Civil War. The war divided the country between the North and South. There were many factors that caused this war, but the main ones were the different interpretations of the Constitution by the North and South, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the arrival of Lincoln in office. These factors were very crucial in the bringing upon of the destruction of the Union. They caused immediate war. In 1791, the tenth amendment wasRead MoreThe Causes Of The Civil War1016 Words   |  5 Pages In 1861, a Civil War broke out in the United States when the South declared their independence from the Union.  There is a great amount of reasons that people can argue how the Civil War was started. However, what most people don’t understand, is that most of the events leading up to the Civil War were related to slavery.  Slavery was the core of the North and South’s conflict, which led to a very vicious feud.   The immediate cause of the war was slavery. Southern states, including the 11 statesRead MoreThe Causes Of The Civil War1409 Words   |  6 PagesThe causes of the Civil War were complex and have been controversial since the country began. Some causes include; states’ rights, economics, and slavery. The most recognizable and popular cause is slavery. The freeing of the slaves was an important moral issue at the time and one of the greatest causes of the civil war. It was only by carefully avoiding the moral issue involved in slavery that Northerners and Southerners could meet on any common ground. (Goldston, 79). The time came in which ourRead MoreThe Cause of the Civil War800 Words   |  4 Pages The Cause of the Civil War Generally, it is thought to be the South’s fault for causing the Civil War. Contrary to popular belief, the Civil War was mainly provoked by the North; through using the federal government to overtake the South, removing slavery which would destroy Southern economy, and creating the moral issue of slavery. The North was the primary reason for the start of a war that ripped our country apart. The North had full control over the federal government and used that to suppressRead MoreCivil War Causes1382 Words   |  6 Pages Causes of the Civil War John Brown’s Raid vs. Industrial Revolution John Brown’s Raid was a more influential cause to the civil war than the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution caused incompability between the North and the South. The North relied on wage laborers with the new machine age economy while the South relied heavily on slaves. So, the North did not need slaves for their economyRead MoreCauses Of The Civil War1740 Words   |  7 PagesThe Civil War was not an event that erupted overnight or something that no one had seen coming. It was a result of long stemming conflicts. â€Å"The road to civil war was complex and multi-faceted† (Wells, 1). These conflicts kept creating a divide amongst the states in the nation. The divide finally became so great, that the United States split into the Confederacy (South) and the Union (North), and fighting erupted. â€Å" â€Å"The Civil War,† Randall Jimerson observes, â€Å"became a total war involving the entireRead MoreThe Causes Of The Civil War1238 Words   |à ‚  5 PagesGalindo Mr. Scheet AP U.S History 5 November 2017 Unit 4 Essay The initial causes of the Civil War have been previously discussed and analyzed by historians, but have remained one of the most controversial debates, due to its numerous causes that created the most devastating war in American history. The country had been avoiding the disputes that would later become the causes of the civil war for decades. The Mexican War is proof that the issue of slavery was put on hold by President James K. PolkRead MoreCause of the Civil War1296 Words   |  6 PagesHistory 11 12/17/2006 The root causes and precipitating events that led to the Civil War (1861-1865) The Civil War between northern and southern states was a consequence of contradictions of two social systems inside the country. At the basis of these contradictions was a question of slavery, completely determining economic and political interests of South. North strived to enforce Federal government power to protect their own economic stability. As a result the South wanted a separationRead MoreCauses of the Civil War1489 Words   |  6 PagesThe Causes Of The Civil War The Political War The North and South fought over politics, mainly the idea of slavery. Basically the South wanted and needed it and the North did not want it at all. The South was going to do anything they could to keep it. This was the issue that overshadowed all others. At this time the labor force in the South had about 4 million slaves. These slaves were very valuable to the slaveholding planter class. They were a huge investment to Southerners and if taken awayRead MoreThe Causes Of Civil War2004 Words   |  9 PagesGà ¶ksel What are the causes of Civil War? Do ethnic determinants play an important role? Why are certain parts of Africa characterized by ethnic conflict while other parts remain relatively calm? The conventional understanding on the causes of civil war especially within African countries, to a considerable degree, has being predominantly characterized to draw its root on ethnic divergences. However, such premise appear extremely difficult to be true, owing to the fact that civil war is a complex action

Dracula as a Homosexual Victim free essay sample

The treatment of Stokers Count as a repressed homosexual in Victorian England. This essay paints the title character in Stokers tour de force as the real victim, a victim of society and of orient/occident culture clashes. It examines Dracula not merely as an undead ghoul who terrorizes the London socialites, but as the embodiment of repressed homosexuality in Victorian England at the turn of the century. Dracula was the victim in Bram Stokers Dracula. He was the victim of a society afraid of change, and as such, the character acts as an expression of the authors opinion about those who reside outside acceptable British society. Stokers personal life was one in which the author could not forge a union with society for many reasons, including a childhood illness and an unacceptable lifestyle. It is believed by historians and critics that Stoker was unable to forge a union with society and this is expressed in his broken narrative form in the novel. We will write a custom essay sample on Dracula as a Homosexual Victim or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Dracula the Vampire becomes a parallel to Stoker in the form of repressed homosexuality and an inability to relate to modern British society.