Bloomsbury Academic Liberation Theology in the Philippines: Faith in a Revolution (Religion in the Age of Transformation)

Liberation Theology in the Philippines: Faith in a Revolution studies the interrelationship of international development policies and local social and economic structures in the Philippines. This ethnography demonstrates that the application of conventional development paradigms to the situation overlooks the human suffering and displacement experienced by the people for whom the policies are supposed to help. By contrast, the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) movement offers an alternative strategy for development that aims to build a more just and community-oriented society, while promoting sustainable development. The study begins with an historical analysis of the relationship between liberation theology, the Catholic Church, and the nationalist struggle. The remaining chapters look at the real experiences of people living and working in the BECs, as they struggle against some of the negative impacts of traditional approaches to development. In addition, the author illustrates how BECs can fail when environmental and social factors clash with a community's attempts at development, and highlights the theology and religious aspects of the BEC movement. This unique contribution to the study of liberation theology and development will be of interest to scholars, students, and professionals working with development agencies and religious organizations. Review ?[b]rings a fresh and interesting focus back to the topic...[N]adeau brings theoretical and theological abstractions...[r]eadable book...[n]icely summearize the basic elements of the Spanish and American colonial regimes...For anyone teaching liberation theology, this book would provide a wonderful counterpart to more abstract systematics while, the setting of the Philippines (as opposed to the more common case of Latin America) would enable students to better distinguish the economic, cultural, ecclesial, and political strands.?-Journal of Church and State ?[t]his volume presents interesting field data that illustrate both similarities and contrasts with liberation theology in Latin America.?-Religious Studies ?Frances S. Adeney's book is interesting and informative?-Journal of Church and State "Ýb¨rings a fresh and interesting focus back to the topic...ÝN¨adeau brings theoretical and theological abstractions...Ýr¨eadable book...Ýn¨icely summearize the basic elements of the Spanish and American colonial regimes...For anyone teaching liberation theology, this book would provide a wonderful counterpart to more abstract systematics while, the setting of the Philippines (as opposed to the more common case of Latin America) would enable students to better distinguish the economic, cultural, ecclesial, and political strands."-Journal of Church and State "Ýt¨his volume presents interesting field data that illustrate both similarities and contrasts with liberation theology in Latin America."-Religious Studies "[t]his volume presents interesting field data that illustrate both similarities and contrasts with liberation theology in Latin America."-Religious Studies "Frances S. Adeney's book is interesting and informative"-Journal of Church and State "[b]rings a fresh and interesting focus back to the topic...[N]adeau brings theoretical and theological abstractions...[r]eadable book...[n]icely summearize the basic elements of the Spanish and American colonial regimes...For anyone teaching liberation theology, this book would provide a wonderful counterpart to more abstract systematics while, the setting of the Philippines (as opposed to the more common case of Latin America) would enable students to better distinguish the economic, cultural, ecclesial, and political strands."-Journal of Church and State About the Author KATHLEEN M. NADEAU is an assistant professor and applied anthropology coordinator at California State University in San Bernardino.