This study was set up to determine how the concept of biblical salvation is understood within liberation theology and how the concept is perceived from Pentecostal standpoint with the aim of developing a theological framework to challenge the dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The central argument of this thesis is that, there are irreconcilable differences between the salvation espoused by liberation theology's praxeological epistemology and the Pentecostal understanding of the concept etymologically and hermeneutically speaking. The study further probes whether Pentecostalism can provide the necessary theological framework that can be used to challenge the perceived dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The study achieved its purpose by setting meaningful objectives and following the appropriate research methodologies. Firstly, the study employed in-depth textual analysis, historiography, lexicology, and hermeneutic principles to understand the etymology of salvation from previous scholarship. This effort helped to elucidate differences that exist between liberation theology and Pentecostal renderings of the concept. Secondly, the concerns of existing contributors on the subject were evaluated by researching historical, linguistic and textual materials as well as exegetical analysis of relevant texts of Scripture. Thirdly, an in-depth literature analysis was undertaken to ascertain liberation theology's hermeneutic methodologies. This is necessary to establish whether the movement is more interested in promoting its ideologies and preunderstandings rather than biblical salvation. Fourthly, it was necessary to review the deep concerns expressed by liberation theology epistemology without compromising the message of the Gospel. This was achieved by a thorough analysis of social ministries undertaken by Progressive Pentecostals across the globe. Fifthly, the study evaluated the Pentecostal criticisms of liberation theology to see if there is any justification for that. This was achieved through an in-depth exegetical and hermeneutic analysis using word studies, theological dictionaries, bible commentaries, and by reviewing scholarly articles on the subject matter. Lastly, by analysing the difference between Pentecostal and liberation theologies, it was clear that their methods of operations are different. This goes to explain why Pentecostalism is growing exponentially while liberation theology is declining. The outcome of this analysis also explains why Pentecostalism is a better alternative in addressing the challenges facing our global community. / PhD (Dogmatics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study was set up to determine how the concept of biblical salvation is understood within liberation theology and how the concept is perceived from Pentecostal standpoint with the aim of developing a theological framework to challenge the dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The central argument of this thesis is that, there are irreconcilable differences between the salvation espoused by liberation theology's praxeological epistemology and the Pentecostal understanding of the concept etymologically and hermeneutically speaking. The study further probes whether Pentecostalism can provide the necessary theological framework that can be used to challenge the perceived dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The study achieved its purpose by setting meaningful objectives and following the appropriate research methodologies. Firstly, the study employed in-depth textual analysis, historiography, lexicology, and hermeneutic principles to understand the etymology of salvation from previous scholarship. This effort helped to elucidate differences that exist between liberation theology and Pentecostal renderings of the concept. Secondly, the concerns of existing contributors on the subject were evaluated by researching historical, linguistic and textual materials as well as exegetical analysis of relevant texts of Scripture. Thirdly, an in-depth literature analysis was undertaken to ascertain liberation theology's hermeneutic methodologies. This is necessary to establish whether the movement is more interested in promoting its ideologies and preunderstandings rather than biblical salvation. Fourthly, it was necessary to review the deep concerns expressed by liberation theology epistemology without compromising the message of the Gospel. This was achieved by a thorough analysis of social ministries undertaken by Progressive Pentecostals across the globe. Fifthly, the study evaluated the Pentecostal criticisms of liberation theology to see if there is any justification for that. This was achieved through an in-depth exegetical and hermeneutic analysis using word studies, theological dictionaries, bible commentaries, and by reviewing scholarly articles on the subject matter. Lastly, by analysing the difference between Pentecostal and liberation theologies, it was clear that their methods of operations are different. This goes to explain why Pentecostalism is growing exponentially while liberation theology is declining. The outcome of this analysis also explains why Pentecostalism is a better alternative in addressing the challenges facing our global community. / PhD (Dogmatics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:19:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniel Soza.pdf: 1362204 bytes, checksum: 7b36762fc06e3ba4b9a4e96348aec07b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-12 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O objetivo central desta pesquisa é desvendar possibilidades no estabelecimento de prováveis eixos básicos de uma cristologia pluralista da libertação, a partir das reflexões teológicas de Jon Sobrino (1938-) e Jacques Dupuis (1923-2004). Para tanto, se reconhecem cotidianamente os entrecruzamentos de sinais dos tempos, como as diferenças religiosas e as violações de direitos e injustiças sociais. A partir desta problemática, toma-se como hipótese a necessidade de se demonstrar a articulação em andamento entre perspectivas das teologias da libertação com perspectivas das teologias cristãs do pluralismo religioso, sinalizando um novo modo de fazer teologia. O trabalho aqui desenvolvido dialoga com os estudos culturais, especialmente com os conceitos de Homi Bhabha, o referencial teórico desta pesquisa, que possibilitou, criticamente, o entrelaçamento das perspectivas de Jacques Dupuis e Jon Sobrino. Para a construção desta cristologia, seguiu-se um tripé metodológico: revisão, reconstrução e reinvenção. O trabalho buscou revisar os discursos teológicos apresentados por Jon Sobrino e Jacques Dupuis; reconstruir as reflexões teológicas elaboradas por estes autores; e reinventar uma cristologia que se mostre como um terceiro espaço, um entrelugar discursivo, uma cristologia pluralista da libertação, que não é nem o um (a cristologia da libertação) nem o outro (a teologia cristã do pluralismo religioso), mas algo a mais, uma fala híbrida elaborada a partir de determinadas zonas de contato entre os autores. A pesquisa apresenta como eixos: (i) uma cristologia integral: vivenciada nos espaços cotidianos, com uma reflexão a partir das vítimas e do espírito das testemunhas; (ii) uma cristologia trinitária: refletida a partir d@ outr@ e centrada no mistério inesgotável, na humanização do divino e na força do Espírito; e (iii) uma cristologia reinoteocêntrica: vocacionada ao reino de Deus, numa tensão entre a parcialidade com as vítimas e a universalidade da ação de Deus, numa elaboração nas vias da mística e em um discurso cristológico estruturado na (des)missão. Tais eixos possuem implicações políticas, uma vez que esta cristologia se constrói como uma dupla função: é objeto de estudo e é espaço para a atuação política, reconhecendo que novos discursos e linguagens relacionam-se com novas atuações e mobilizações sociais.