Gandhi and Gutiérrez: Two Paradigms of Liberative TransformationDecent Books, 2004 - 284 pages This book examines two paradigmatic figures, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Gustavo Gutierrez, both involved in the struggle for liberation in their respective contexts. The former successfully led India's freedom struggle against the British, evolving in the process a unique paradigm rooted in the religious perceptions. He was called the "Mahatma" as well as the "Father of our nation". The latter attempted to reflect and articulate a theology of liberation in the context of the exploitation prevalent in Latin America, and has been rightly called "the Father of Liberation Theology". As we grope today for non-violent, harmonious and effective ways of social transformative action and conflict resolution in a world torn by violence, strife and enmity, a comparative study and a mutual conversation of these two paradigmatic figures can offer enormous insights. This is attempted here in the hope of identifying some features of an economic-political ethics and thus move toward a clearer paradigm of liberative transformation in the Indian context. The probe shows us the meaning of liberation and the foundational bases of the liberative agenda so as to assess their adequacy, coherence and comprehensiveness of the paradigms used. Areas of agreements as well as points of differences between the two authors are closely looked at. It is found that there are areas at which Gandhi and Gutierrez meet. There are also differences in their social analysis. These differences are significant as they affect their prescriptions for action. There is here a fascinating comparison between the Ahimsatmak Satyagraha of Gandhi and the "Drinking From Our Own Wells" of Gutierrez. Finally, it is shown that both the thinkers and their systems stand not in opposition to one another but mutually enrich to produce an adequate paradigm of liberative transformation applicable in our contemporary context especially that of India. |
From inside the book
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Page 106
... Poverty means death . " It is this God that is discovered at the core of commitment to the poor and forms the very notion of the commitment to solidarity with the poor : The ultimate reason behind our option for the poor and our ...
... Poverty means death . " It is this God that is discovered at the core of commitment to the poor and forms the very notion of the commitment to solidarity with the poor : The ultimate reason behind our option for the poor and our ...
Page 186
... poverty , disappearance and death , people have discovered a new faith in God who liberates and gives life . They are also experiencing a time of martyrdom , a time of prayer , a time of hope , and a time of solidarity : The struggles ...
... poverty , disappearance and death , people have discovered a new faith in God who liberates and gives life . They are also experiencing a time of martyrdom , a time of prayer , a time of hope , and a time of solidarity : The struggles ...
Page 234
... poverty . This shift in emphasis need not necessarily imply lack of emphasis on articulations of belief . Gutiérrez's aim is to capture and forcefully articulate the true and original Christian experience as given especially in the ...
... poverty . This shift in emphasis need not necessarily imply lack of emphasis on articulations of belief . Gutiérrez's aim is to capture and forcefully articulate the true and original Christian experience as given especially in the ...
Contents
MEANING OF LIBERATION | 14 |
FOUNDATIONAL BASES OF LIBERATIVE | 44 |
God as Truth | 67 |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
according action active ahimsa America approach attain attempt becomes believe better capacity Christ Christian commitment concept concerned concrete conversion Delhi Development divine Drink economic emphasis encounter especially ethical existence experience expression fact faith force foundational freedom Gandhian given gives goal God's Gutiérrez Harijan heart Hence human implies individual interpretation Iyer Jesus John justice Kingdom Latin Liberation Theology liberative transformation living Lord Mahatma Gandhi manifested Maryknoll means moral nature non-violence notion one's oppressed Orbis Books paradigm person Philosophy political poor positive Power practice praxis presence Press principle Publishing reality realization reason reflection relationship religious salvation satya satyagraha sense social society speaks spirituality structures struggle suffering swaraj Theology of Liberation Thought transformation Truth ultimate understanding University various violence whole Writings York Young India