Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama, & Liberation Theology

The recent Jeremiah Wright – Barack Obama episode has raised questions about Christian theology. And it is clear to me from this episode and the media’s handling of it, that most Americans are unaware of what mainstream Christian theology actually says.

In Sen. Obama’s press conference denouncing Rev. Wright, he was asked about liberation theology. Sen. Obama claimed some ignorance of the term, but said he believed in a social gospel and that the social gospel is what he had always heard in church. I guess it was an instance of Rev. Wright preaching liberation, and Sen. Obama hearing something else. So, let’s start by distinguishing between the social gospel and liberation theology. . . . [Read the rest of my HNOKC.com column]

Comments

[Howie Luvzus]

As a Rauschenbusch fan and a Dr. King fan, I'd respectfully disagree with your take on King's relationship to Walter:

King credited Rauschenbusch for providing him with a solid theological foundation for the passion for social concerns that
he grew up with.

See: Martin Luther King, Jr., Stride Toward Freedom (New York: Harper
and Row, 1958), p. 91.

[Howie Luvzus]

I can't find the quote right now, but he said that Rauschenbusch left "an indelible imprint" on his thinking.

A valid critique of Rauschenbusch is his overly optimistic view of humanity, however, many followers of Rauschenbusch don't hold that view but emphasize the need for Christians to make an impact on the Social order.

[Scott]

Yes, Rauschenbusch is more complex than an introduction to the larger topic can state.