Prison Theology: A Theology of Liberation,Hope and Justice

Abstract : In our nation today, the number of prisons and prisoners continue to grow at rates that are out‐of‐control. One in 100 of our citizens is in jail or prison, the highest ratio in the world. Unlike the poor, homeless, critically ill, and elderly, those in prison are separated from us to the degree they are unseen. Unseen also, is the oppressiveness of the criminal justice system that oversees more than 6.5 million people either in confinement or on probation or parole. Liberation theology, which advocates and works toward freeing people from oppression, includes feminist, black, womanist and Latino/Hispanic movements. This article proposes prison theology as part of the liberation theology family and identifies a prison theology based on liberation, hope and justice. It encourages a prison theology movement led by the church to liberate those under the oppressiveness of the criminal justice system, especially those confined and to energize a passion for justice and compassion for the oppressed throughout the criminal justice system.     

Designer Theology: A Feminist Perspective

This is a critical look at the question of design from a feminist theological perspective. The author analyzes James Moore's 1995 Zygon article, "Cosmology and Theology: The Reemergence of Patriarchy." Then she looks at the relationship between science and religion from a feminist perspective, focusing on the kyriarchal nature of theology itself in light of the myriad power issues at hand. Finally, she suggests that, instead of pondering the notion of design, scientists and theologians might more fruitfully look for new ground for dialogue since feminist scholars are asking very different questions, not just answering questions differently.     

Hospitality: A Feminist Theology of Education

This article presents a methodology for a feminist theology of education based on reflection of women's educational experience in light of historical and contemporary theological works, especially the writing of Julian of Norwich. It argues for hospitality as a metaphor for theological education and suggests an understanding of the student, teacher, and environment of education that can create hospitality in the classroom.     

第二代解放神学——草民神学管窥

本文通过对阿根廷神学家斯坎诺内著作的分析,讨论了解放神学的基本脉络,特别指出六八年世界范围内的革命这一事件对解放神学的重大意义,在教会内部则是有着长久历史的社会教义传统本身可以提供对解放神学的支持,这在解放神学的方法论问题上尤为重要,而在方法论上的不同使得第二代解放神学有别于第一代解放神学.最后笔者吁请关注六八年,关注拉丁美洲.     

A Modest Proposal: A Pastoral Political Theology

A pastoral political theology, I contend, has four goals, namely, (a) critical, systemic examination of political governance, policies, programs, and structures vis-à-vis the concept of care—theologically understood, (b) facilitating cooperation and collaboration with diverse others in cultivating public spaces of appearances, (c) offering concrete plans in meeting the needs of particular others—citizen and non-citizen, and (d) assessing the implementation of these solutions. In this article, I offer an outline of and foundational theological premises for a pastoral political theology, indicating its distinctions from and contributions to political theologies that focus on justice and liberation. More specifically, I focus on the first goal, relying on the concept of care, theologically understood, as a hermeneutical framework for assessing the political milieu.     

Contemporary Black Theology: A Review Essay

Books reviewed in this article:
Dwight N. Hopkins, Introducing Black Theology of Liberation
Dwight N. Hopkins, Down, Up, and Over; Slave Religion and Black Theology
Dwight N. Hopkins, Heart and Head: Black Theology–Past, Present, and Future     

Latino/a Theology: Doing Theology Latinamente

Latino/a Theology is rising among theologians of Latin American descent in the United States. This article describes five characteristics: 1) it is specific to the cultural context of marginalized Hispanic history; 2) it focuses on the theme of mestizaje/mulatez, the biological and cultural mixing of European Spanish with Africans and indigenous Americans; 3) it derives from popular religion; 4) it deals with everyday life, lo cotidiano; 5) like liberation theology, it emphasizes praxis.     

Latino/a Theology: Doing Theology Latinamente

Latino/a Theology is rising among theologians of Latin American descent in the United States. This article describes five characteristics: 1) it is specific to the cultural context of marginalized Hispanic history; 2) it focuses on the theme of mestizaje/mulatez, the biological and cultural mixing of European Spanish with Africans and indigenous Americans; 3) it derives from popular religion; 4) it deals with everyday life, lo cotidiano; 5) like liberation theology, it emphasizes praxis.