LATIN AMERICAN LIBERATION THEOLOGY 

                                              JON SOBRINO 

There are other Latin American theologians of liberation that specialize in Christology. Jon Sobrino is one of them.

Jon Sobrino joins Leonardo Boff in making his major contribution  the development of a christology appropriate for the Latin American setting.  He was born in Spain, received a master's degree in engineering mechanics at St. Louis University in 1965 and a doctorate in theology from the Hochschule Sankt Georgen, Frankfurt, in 1975.  He has served as professor of philosophy and theology at the Universidad Jose Simeon Canas, San Salvador (Ferm, op. cit. p. 125).

In his Christology of the Crossroads: A Latin American Approach, Sobrino agrees with Boff in pointing to the close parallel between the contemporary Latin American setting and the historical context in which Jesus lived (Maryknoll, N.Y., Orbis, 1978).

Sobrino finds traditional views on the nature of Christ devoid of historical and grass-roots relevance. He calls them "Christologies of descent," because they try to superimpose on any given cultural setting a prepackaged, abstract scheme of salvation (Christology, p. 337).

These classic views begin with the dogmatic claim that God became human in Christ, and then proceed to spell out the general implications of this divine act for all humankind.  Little wonder, then, that these christologies appear historically alienating and open to manipulation, completely lacking in human relevance (Ibid., p. 353). 

Sobrino contends that the starting point for Christology should be "the underside of history," an idea that increasingly gained favor among Latin American liberation theologians.  By this term, Sobrino means that one should begin with the actual of the lives of oppressed peoples, and of a Jesus who is Himself rooted in a particular history (Ferm, op. cit. p. 45).

Here once again, we find the issue of the "starting point" for Liberation Theology.  While each liberation theologian has a different area of focus, most of them believe that oppression and suffering are the starting points for biblical interpretation and theological reflection.  This particular theologian (yours truly) also subscribes to that approach to theology.  It is this writer's opinion that if theology does not address or take into consideration the human condition, that it is then, not only irrelevant, but as the late Dr. James Cone said "demonic and oppressive."  

Jon Sobrino's Christology is an important addition the small but growing literature among Latin American theologians that seeks to develop an authentic christology for the poor and oppressed.  One might add that Marx appears only once in the book (Ferm, op. cit., p. 42).

Sobrino's overriding concern is to make Christ come alive in the context of Latin American oppression. In other words, for Sobrino, the doctrine of the person and work of Christ only become relevant when we, as James Cone said, "We don't ask the question as to what did Jesus do back then but what is he doing today? (Ibid.. p. 44).

He talks about the four American woman (nuns) who were raped and killed in El Salvador in 19890.  He says, "They are dead today. But they are also the Risen Christ, who keeps alive the hope of liberation.  Their assassinations as affected the entire world and moved it to indignation. But to Christians, this assassination also speaks to of God, because these women say something to us about God.... Salvation comes to us through all men and women who love truth rather than falsehood, who are more disposed to to give rather than to receive, whose greatest love is  giving their life rather then keeping it for themselves. This where God makes Himself present (Marykoll:Orbis, 1978).

Is Christ present in Latin America today?  If so, how?  I think that most theologians of liberation would affirm that Christ is most present among those who fight for social justice and for the eradication of unjust social policies and structures.

Dr. Juan A. Carmona 

Past Professor of Latin American Liberation Theology

Tainan Theological College/Seminary