2

Protestantismo em Revista, So Leopoldo, RS, v. 27, jan.-abr. 2012

Waves of Liberation Theology: God non-science since Rubem Alves

Ondas da Teologia da Libertao: a no-cincia de Deus a partir de Rubem Alves By uri Andr!as Reblin" T#$D$
Pro"essor at the Faculdades EST re!lin#iar$%ahoo com !r

Abstract The present te&t pro!lemati'es the de!ate a!out theolo(% )hile scienti"ic *no)led(e related to divine m%steries since Ru!em +lves, theolo(ical thou(ht throu(h a !i!lio(raphical e&plorator% approach -t redeems the possi!ilities Ru!em +lves set to the pro!lem o" the scienti"icit% o" theolo(% startin( "rom t)o ideas o" the author re(ardin( the theolo(ical speech: ./ -n order to *no) 0od )e have to "or(et 0od and 1/ Theolo(% is a (ame )hich is pla%ed )hen li"e is at sta*e The te&t concludes that Ru!em +lves, theolo(ical thou(ht points out some directions: 2Re3/thin*in( theolo(% as a human science leaned on reli(ious e&perience4 its s%m!ols4 le(acies and hopes5 2Re3/thin*in( theolo(% "ocused on the social dail% li"e4 the realit%4 a theolo(% that is !orn "rom the !o)els o" people )ho can spea* "rom them and "or them5 2Re3/thin*in( a theolo(% that does not lose its "ascination )ith the m%ster%4 a theolo(% that sustains its poetic "reedom and its prophetic criticalit%4 i e 4 a theolo(% that is4 "irst o" all4 !eauti"ul !ecause it is "rom dreams o" !eaut% that lovers are !orn o" %ey&ords Theolo(ical epistemolo(% +lves Theolo(%

Resumo 6 presente te&to pro!lemati'a o de!ate acerca da teolo(ia enquanto sa!er cient"ico relacionado aos mist7rios divinos a partir do pensamento teol8(ico de Ru!em +lves por meio de uma a!orda(em !i!lio(r9"ica e&plorat8ria 6 te&to recupera as possi!ilidades que Ru!em +lves coloca para o pro!lema da cienti"icidade da teolo(ia a partir de duas ideias do autor acerca do discurso teol8(ico: ./ Para conhecer Deus 7 necess9rio se esquecer de Deus e 1/ + teolo(ia 7 um :o(o que se :o(a quando a vida est9 em :o(o 6 te&to conclui que o pensamento teol8(ico de Ru!em +lves indica al(umas dire;<es: 2re/pensar a teolo(ia como uma ci=ncia humana calcada na e&peri=ncia reli(iosa4 seus sm!olos4 le(ados e esperan;as5 2re/pensar a teolo(ia "ocada na vida social cotidiana4 na realidade4 a teolo(ia que nasce das entranhas das pessoas4 as quais s>o capa'es de "alar a partir delas e por elas5 2re/pensar a teolo(ia que n>o perde seu "ascnio pelo mist7rio4 a teolo(ia que mant7m sua li!erdade po7tica e sua crtica pro"7tica5 isto 74 uma teolo(ia que 74 antes de tudo4 !ela porque 7 a partir dos sonhos de !ele'a que nascem os amantes 'alavras-c#ave Epistemolo(ia teol8(ica ?onhecimento cient"ico Ru!em +lves Teolo(ia

Scienti"ic *no)led(e

Ru!em

nitial (onsiderations 6ne o" the most heated de!ates o" the contemporar% a(e in the scienti"ic "ield is )hether theolo(% is or is not a science -n @ra'il4 this de!ate !ecomes even more interestin( !ecause theolo(% academies )ere reco(ni'ed !% the Ainistr% o" Education as le(itimate institutions o" hi(her education 2colle(e/ a little more than a decade a(o +nd the inclusion o" theolo(% in the list o" the (reat academic sciences reco(ni'ed !% the @ra'ilian State has occurred onl% a!out t)o decades a(o4 since the

reco(nition o" post3(raduation pro(rams o" theolo(% and sciences o" reli(ion4 althou(h these post3(raduation pro(rams have alread% !een periodicall% evaluated since the .BCDs . @esides this recent issue o" a @ra'ilian !irth certi"icate to an
.

+NDR+DE4 Paulo F ? 6 reconhecimento da teolo(ia como sa!er universit9rio: tens<es e articula;<es entre as dimens<es con"essional e pro"issional Ciberteologia: revista de teolo(ia e cultura4 S>o Paulo4 ano E4 n 1F4 nov 3de' 1DDB p 1G3HG +vaila!le at: Ihttp://ci!erteolo(ia paulinas or( !r/ci!erteolo(ia/)p3 content/uploads/1DDB/.D/DH6ReconhecimentoDaTeolo (ia pd"J +ccess on Aarch .Dth 1D..

Revista Eletrnica do Ncleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo da Faculdades EST Disponvel em: http://periodicos est edu !r/nepp

Protestantismo em Revista, So Leopoldo, RS, v. 27, jan.-abr. 2012

ancient *no)led(e4 theolo(% has al)a%s !een pla(ued !% questions concernin( the li"e o" man% ?hristian communities and4 in (eneral4 the presence o" theolo(ians in academic de!ate circles )as o"ten diminished -nside the theolo(ical "ield the discussion a!out the scienti"icit% o" theolo(ical *no)led(e )ent (enerall% throu(h t)o paths 6n one side4 there )as the de!ate on the possi!ilities o" adequac% 2or not/ to the parameters o" positive science4 and on the other side4 there )as the discussion on theolo(% )hile a divine science4 accentuated !% the "undamentalists The insistence on the de!ate on the epistemolo(ical status o" theolo(%4 on its de(ree o" scienti"icit% is4 deep do)n4 a quest "or reco(nition !% the le(itimate circles o" *no)led(e -n other )ords4 theolo(% )ants to have its speech ta*en seriousl%4 it )ants to have the possi!ilit% o" esta!lishin( a dialo(ue )ith other scientists and in this )a% !e a!le to help !uild a !etter societ% Throu(hout the second hal" o" the previous centur%4 man% @ra'ilian and Katin +merican theolo(ians have tried to ans)er the question o" the scienti"icit% o" theolo(% )hile developin( ne) theolo(ical methods or )hile !elievin( a theolo(% )ith a Katin +merican soul alon( the e""ervescence o" the Ki!eration Theolo(% @% !ein( a ne) theolo(ical perspective in (estation4 stron(l% !ased on )ishes and conte&ts o" the Katin +merican peoples4 ne) theolo(ical parameters )ere outlined: hermeneutics4 conte&tualit%4 the relation !et)een reli(ion4 societ%4 econom%4 "aith4 culture4 politics4 theolo(% and science +mon( those theolo(ians4 Ru!em +lves deserves special attention4 !ecause he is someone )ho )as responsi!le "or de"inin( )hat Katin +merican theolo(% )ould !ecome Ru!em +lves is not :ust one o" the precursors o" Ki!eration Theolo(%5 he is also one o" the articulators o" an e&tremel% peculiar theolo(% and )as e&tremel% si(ni"icant "or the construction o" the theolo(ical thou(ht in Katin +merica +nd that is !ecause he has (one !e%ond the sociolo(ical speech o" Ki!eration Theolo(% at the time4 rescuin( in the same )a% senses and dreams )ith irreverence and cunnin( Aoreover4 he has understood that theolo(% is !asicall% a (ame )hich )ould !e pla%ed )hen li"e is at sta*e and that the theolo(ical speech

should not onl% comprehend one aspect o" human li"e4 !ut li"e in all its inte(rit%4 diversit% and comple&it% -t is a Ki!eration Theolo(% )hich does not ever "or(et the hope and the need o" dreamin( Naturall%4 it is not possi!le to reproduce here all Ru!em +lves, em!lematic thou(hts on theolo(% Lo)ever4 it is possi!le to redeem the possi!ilities he set to the pro!lem o" the scienti"icit% o" theolo(% These possi!ilities )ere outlined here "rom t)o ideas o" the author re(ardin( theolo(ical speech: ./ -n order to *no) 0od )e have to "or(et 0od and 1/ Theolo(% is a (ame )hich is pla%ed )hen li"e is at sta*e %no&ing )od means *orgetting )od The (reatest challen(e o" theolo(% as a speech is to "ind a !alance !et)een )hat is said and the po)er that is attri!uted to )hat is said +nd the reason "or that is simple: theolo(% as 0od speech or speech on 0od pronounced !% human !ein(s is su!:ect4 )hether intentionall% or not4 to the tric*s o" po)er stru((les amon( those )ho supposedl% master the theolo(ical *no)led(e and assume leadership positions in reli(ious institutions The char(e is serious The crimes committed in the name o" 0od throu(hout the histor% o" humanit% are serious as )ell +ccordin( to Ru!em +lves4 theolo(% cannot !e a divine science4 !ecause it is not allo)ed to tell the truth a!out 0od Ever% time someone advocates an a!solute truth a!out 0od4 the% !ecome a potential inquisitor +nd Ru!em +lves asseverates the "ollo)in( provocation: M0od doctrine is "or theolo(% in the same )a% adornments4 the colonnade4 murals and sculptures are "or the cathedral The% are parts o" the !uildin( )ithout !ein( )hat sustains itN 1 +nd this provocation (oes "urther throu(hout the "ollo)in( points:H ./ M@ehind ever% speech on 0od4 there is a hidden su!:ect N 1/ MThe acceptance o" one true and orthodo& speech and the re:ection o" another as "alse and heterodo& happen at the level o" the political po)er o" the su!:ects )ho enunciate these
1

+KOES4 Ru!em Dogmatismo e tolerncia S>o Paulo: Ko%ola4 1DDG p GE +KOES4 1DDG4 p GE3GF

Revista Eletrnica do Ncleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo da Faculdades EST Disponvel em: http://periodicos est edu !r/nepp

Protestantismo em Revista, So Leopoldo, RS, v. 27, jan.-abr. 2012

means rethin*in( its place4 its 2*ind o"/ speech4 its purpose in societ% and people,s lives +ccordin( to Ru!em +lves4 )hat happens "requentl% in the dialo(ue )ith the theolo(ical speech is a lan(ua(e spell Theolo(ical )ords and their representations or meanin(s lose their temporariness The provisor% is considered a!solute4 and the "act that lan(ua(e is a social phenomenon su!:ect to nuances o" each societ%4 a(e4 and relationships that are routinel% lost in o!livion MThe ps%chosocial mechanisms o" the o!scuration o" the precariousness o" our )orld are meant to !e)itch us to live as i" the precariousness )ere permanent4 as i" "acts )ere thin(sN F +t this point4 Kud)i( Pitt(enstein has alread% approached in his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus the !e)itchin( character o" lan(ua(e and ho) people !ecome prisoners o" the statements the% create4 althou(h the% are also a!le to !rea* the spell C +nd TUr(en La!ermas has stressed enou(h that the truth is a propert% o" lan(ua(e4 it !elon(s to (rammar and it is responsi!le "or the normativit% o" reason -n other )ords4 accordin( to La!ermas4 there are not immuta!le truths4 :ust M!ehavioralN certainties su!:ect to questionin( and reasonin( S Neither the social realit% nor the truth is ontolo(ical So )hich paths remain to theolo(% that see*s "or scienti"icit%V Phich )a%s remain to theolo(% that )ants to ma*e a di""erence in the )orldV -s there a theolo(ical speech that is not capa!le o" !ein( !etra%ed !% the o)n )ords it pro"essesV -s it possi!le to tal* a!out 0odV -n an e&ceptional te&t named MFor(ettin( 0odN4B Ru!em +lves ta*es up the importance o" (ettin( rid o" the ontolo(ical status attri!uted to social "acts and the intention to sustain strict meanin(s on )ords and enunciations Not even a hermeneutics or a one3)a%4 restricted4 in"alli!le e&e(esis is possi!le Phat remains thenV The "irst

speeches Phat matters is )ho has the last )ord N H/ MThe orthodo& con"ession is4 thus4 a circular "orm o" ma*in( a political con"ession o" the ?hurchN Theolo(ical decisions on themes4 rituals4 and speeches to !e accepted or re"used occur at a political level +nd )henever there is a lac* o" dialo(ue !et)een di""erent theolo(ical (roups4 there is a dan(er o" su!:u(ation and e&clusion 6" course4 this tension also occurs in other institutions and *no)led(e "ields4 !ut on a much smaller scale than it occurred )ith the theolo(ical *no)led(e allied to political po)er centuries a(o -t is not simpl% a question o" a political tension in theolo(% either The pro!lem o" theolo(% is precisel% the "act that it has an o!:ect 2i" it can !e named/ that transcends the "rontiers o" human understandin( 0od is too (reat to !e cau(ht4 studied and dissected Ru!em +lves uses a ver% interestin( metaphor to illustrate the non3tas* o" theolo(%: MTheolo(% is not a net )e )eave to catch 0od into its meshes4 !ecause 0od is not a "ish4 !ut Pind that cannot !e heldQNG +nd the reason "or this is in another metaphor o" the author concernin( the divine m%ster%: M+n enca(ed 0od in a ca(e o" )ords called do(mas is al)a%s smaller than the ca(e This 0od is not a !ird that "lies4 it is a stu""ed !irdN E +s said !% Ru!em +lves4 the *no)led(e o" The +!solute is !e%ond the "rontiers o" human understandin( The attempt to em!race it )ill result in R at most R a pro:ection process as "eatured !% Feuer!ach in his The Essence of Christianity 0od is an unspea*a!le m%ster% that surrounds human e&istence -t is :ust not possi!le to spea* a!out Lim or Ler Thus4 theolo(% "inds itsel" in a "rea* situation: as scienti"ic *no)led(e4 it cannot intend to enunciate )hat it al)a%s )anted throu(hout the centuries: to tell the truth a!out 0od This situation calls into question not :ust the quer% on !ein( 2a!le to !e/ or not a science4 !ut i" )e overcome this issue4 also the quer% on )hat *ind o" science it can !e That does not mean the end o" theolo(%4 !ut it
G

C S

+KOES4 Ru!em Da esperana ?ampinas: Papirus4 .BSC p .D +KOES4 1DDG4 p .D

+KOES4 Ru!em O enigma da religio E ed ?ampinas: Papirus4 1DDF p .1B +KOES4 1DDF4 p .1F L+@ERA+S4 TUr(en Pensamento p s-metaf!sico: estudos "ilos8"icos 1 ed Rio de Taneiro: Tempo @rasileiro4 1DD1 p .1S +KOES4 Ru!em Esquecer de Deus Tempo e Presena4 Rio de Taneiro4 n 1BS4 p HG3HE4 maio3:un .BBS

Revista Eletrnica do Ncleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo da Faculdades EST Disponvel em: http://periodicos est edu !r/nepp

Protestantismo em Revista, So Leopoldo, RS, v. 27, jan.-abr. 2012

alternative "or theolo(% is simpl% let 0od !e 0od and not "it him or her into human cate(ories
0od has never !een seen That is )h% the sacred poems e&pressl% prohi!it his name o" !ein( pronounced -" 0od is not (iven to our senses4 it is a mortal sin to thin* and sa% ho) he is The speech4 the name create the illusion that 0od is an o!:ect ne&t to others Tust sa%in( MheN to re"er to 0od alread% creates the illusion that he is male -" it is said MsheN W0odX is "emale @ut could it not !e an MitN4 such as the )ind4 the "ire4 the )aterV.D

+nd he ar(ues "or the need to detach )hat has !een tau(ht:
-t happened li*e this - *ne) nothin( People )ere tal*in(4 and their )ords )ere :oinin( each other until all to(ether !ecame a thin( that 0od )as in their heads No) - *no) that it )as not 0od: it )as a :um!le o" invented )ords @ut !ac* then4 !o%4 - !elieved )hat )as told to me: - )as !e)itched - !elieved !ecause - thou(ht the% *ne) more than me -t too* me so lon( to discover that the% *ne) nothin( Lere comes the question: i" the )ords that the adults used to tal* a!out 0od had not !een ta*en "rom 0od4 )here did the% ta*e them "romV There is onl% one place: The% too* them "rom )ithin themselves This mechanism has a name: )e call it pro:ection Pro:ection is )hat %ou see in the movies W X The 0od people thin* and tal* a!out is made )ith pieces o" themselves W X So that means that 0od is :ust an illusion4 li*e the illusion o" the cinemaV No )a% This means that in order to tal* o" 0od4 the "irst thin( to do is to unlearn )hat )e have !een tau(ht a!out 0od Pe must "or(et in order to see strai(ht You must (o !ac* to the place !e"ore education You must !ecome a child a(ain ..

entire histor% o" theolo(ical thou(ht and ecclesiastical institutions4 !ut rea""irmin( the d%namics o" dail% li"e and the precariousness o" social "acts Aoreover4 it does not mean despisin( the historical le(ac%4 !ut (ivin( it the value it deserves4 neither more nor less Znlearnin( )hat )as tau(ht does not mean den%in( the e&istence o" 0od4 !ut seein( it throu(h di""erent e%es +nd this attitude to)ard the theolo(ical thin*in( avoids4 in turn4 theolo(ical arro(ance4 decreasin( the possi!ilit% o" theolo(ians con"errin( themselves )ith the title o" representatives o" 0od on earth and o" descri!in( Lim or Ler M:ust !ecause the% thin* that 0od chan(es Lis mind or Lis art o" !ein( at the merc% o" thin(s )e thin* and sa%N .1 T#eology is a game t#at is played &#en li+e is at sta,e -" the o!:ect o" theolo(% is too (rand to !e studied4 i" theolo(ians have no authorit% to tal* a!out 0od4 i" it is impossi!le to appl% scienti"ic criteria such as o!:ectivit%4 veri"ia!ilit%4 mathematical structure 2lo(ic/ to the ima(inar% o!:ect4 )hich paths remain to theolo(ical *no)led(eV Ru!em +lves, ans)er to this question appears in the continuation o" the metaphor a!out "ish and a "ishin( net alread% mentioned:
Theolo(% is not a net that can )eave to catch 0od in its meshes4 !ecause 0od is not a "ish4 !ut )ind that cannot !e held Theolo(% is a net )e create "or ourselves4 in order to lie our !odies therein -t is not valued "or the truth %ou can sa% a!out 0od 2it )ould require us to !e 0ods to veri"% this truth/ it is valued "or the (ood it does to our "lesh +h[ The% thin* -,m a heretic None o" this am :ust repeatin( somethin( ver% old4 "or(otten in the Protestant tradition4 )hich sa%s that M\no)in( ?hrist is *no)in( his !ene"itsN: "rom 0od4 the onl% thin( )e can *no) is the (ood Le does to our !od% Pith )ise Rio!aldo,s a(reement:

+n%)a%4 accordin( to Ru!em +lves4 the "irst tas* o" theolo(% is to overcome the in"le&i!ilit% o" the concepts and statements a!out 0od That does not mean a!andonin( the tradition or den%in( the
.D ..

+KOES4 .BBS4 p HE +KOES4 .BBS4 p HE

.1

+KOES4 .BSC4 p .E

Revista Eletrnica do Ncleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo da Faculdades EST Disponvel em: http://periodicos est edu !r/nepp

Protestantismo em Revista, So Leopoldo, RS, v. 27, jan.-abr. 2012

MLo) is it possi!le )ithout 0od out thereV Pith 0od out there4 ever%thin( turns into hope4 the )orld resolves itsel" @ut i" there is no 0od4 people are lost in the comin( and (oin(4 and li"e is pointless -t is the opened dan(er in lar(e and small hours Pith 0od out there is less severe to !e little careless4 !ecause in the end it )or*s @ut i" 0od is not out there4 then4 )e have no license "or an%thin( N Lere it comes do)n to theolo(%4 the rest is em!ellishment There are )ords that live in the head and are (ood "or thou(ht Pith them science )ill !e made @ut there are )ords that live in the !od% and are (ood to !e eaten The% come to our "lesh )ithout (oin( throu(h re"lection Aa(ic 6r poetr%4 )hich is the same thin( .H

!e a science .F Theolo(% is !e"ore sapientia 2)isdom intimatel% lin*ed to the pursuit o" meanin( and reason "or livin( and d%in(/ That does not mean that a part o" theolo(% cannot !e science at all4 that it cannot thin* a!out itsel" -t depends on the *ind o" science that )e are re"errin( to Lo)ever4 it does mean that4 as a science4 theolo(% needs to reali'e that it is4 "irst4 an activit% inherent to ever% human !ein( and that it see*s4 "irst4 to ans)er the human quest "or meanin(4 a home4 a hori'on to )hich people can !e (uided -t is a speech a!out hope in the "ace o" the dissatis"action )ith the realit% o" su""erin( )hich stands amon( us Lope is lin*ed to desire4 and )e onl% )ish "or )hat )e do not have Lope involves the desire to have )hat )e do not have4.C )hich ma*es theolo(% a discourse on the a!sence This desire is not in an% )a% super"luous4 !ecause it implies deepl% the question on ho) to live toda%:
-n the )orld o" appearances4 "ormed !% vision4 articulated throu(h evidence4 "aith is !anned -t is not necessar% to rel% on )hat is told to us: the )ord is su!ordinate to the e%e @ut in the )orld o" a!sences4 )hen the e%es are useless4 )e onl% have )ord and ima(ination as tools "or the construction o" the not yet4 "or )hich our nostal(ia inclines us to +nd here is )here the "ascination and the a!surdit% o" theolo(% is !uilt4 !ecause it starts at the leap o" "aith in )hich - ta*e the ris* o" livin( Mas i"N the universe "eels4 tal*s4 promises5 as i" the universe had a "ate4 the !rother o" our "ate5 as i" creation and men moan in unison5 as i" "rom the "uture depths come )ords o" promise5 the reconciliation o" men )ith nature5 the humani'ation o" nature and the naturali'ation o" men5 nature )ith a human "ace4 human "aces )ith the ease o" !irds and the simplicit% o" lilies5 uni"ication o" all thin(s in one !od%4 the @od% o" ?hrist4 Lost W X That is )hat theolo(% tal*s a!out4 an% theolo(% that (ro)s "rom the !o)els o" men: the meanin( o" li"e and the sense o" death +nd that is )h% their (lass !eads are not onl% (lass !eads4 the% are !read The s%m!ols are devoured4 lend to !e eaten4 the% (ive li"e -t is

The question o" theolo(% 2!ein( a!le to !e/ a science or not is directl% !ound4 there"ore4 to its tas* Far "rom descri!in(4 anal%'in( and dem%sti"%in( the m%ster% that surrounds human e&istence4 the tas* o" theolo(% is "ar more modest M0od is the m%ster% that surrounds human e&istence and theolo(% is the discourse a!out this m%ster% +s this m%ster% is unspea*a!le4 it remains to human !ein( the speech a!out themselves and ho) the% meet or con"ront this m%ster%N .G Thus theolo(% !ecomes4 a!ove all4 a speech a!out hope +nd the purpose o" hope is not to thin*4 !ut "eed the soul4 motivatin( e&periences4 !rin(in( trans"ormations4 )a*in( dreams -n this sense4 Ru!em +lves understands theolo(% as a practice o" )itchcra"t -nspired !% E'e*iel HC .3.G4 he said: M)ould li*e theolo(% to !e this: the )ords that ma*e dreams visi!le and4 )hen spo*en4 turn the valle% o" dr% !ones into a cro)d o" childrenN .E +ccordin( to Ru!em +lves4 theolo(% is not a science4 cannot !e a science and does not )ant to

.H .G

.E

+KOES4 .BSC4 p .D3.. RE@K-N4 -uri +ndr7as Outros cheiros" outros sabores### o pensamento teol8(ico de Ru!em +lves S>o Keopoldo: 6i*os4 1DDB p HC +KOES4 Ru!em Li$es de feitiaria S>o Paulo: Ko%ola4 1DDD p .H

.F

.C

+KOES4 Ru!em %aria$es sobre a &ida e a morte ou o feitio er tico-her'tico da teologia S>o Paulo: Ko%ola4 1DDE p .GG +KOES4 1DDE4 p .GC

Revista Eletrnica do Ncleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo da Faculdades EST Disponvel em: http://periodicos est edu !r/nepp

Protestantismo em Revista, So Leopoldo, RS, v. 27, jan.-abr. 2012

understood that it is not4 do not )ant to !e4 cannot !e a science W X Theolo(% tal*s a!out the meanin( o" li"e Statement that can !e reversed: )henever men are tal*in( a!out the meanin( o" li"e4 even thou(h the% do not use those (lass !eads that !rin( the traditional colors o" the sacred4 the% )ill !e constructin( theolo(ies: )orlds o" love in )hich ma*es sense to live and die in .S

and polic% So "ar Mthe hand reachesN theolo(% must !e put into action Phere the hand does not reach4 theolo(% must put itsel" in pra%er: Ora et Labora
+ccordin( to Ru!em +lves4 MW X theolo(% is al)a%s done )ith a pra%er N +nd )hat is pra%erV + pra%er is the :unction o" po)erlessness and the love that )ants the a!sent thin( -t is a )hole ]turn, to transcendence4 to the emptiness that haunts the e&istence4 )ith an intense and immanent desire that ])hat is not, )ill !e @et)een the lines o" the pra%er lives hope MW X pra%er is onl% a moan ]Si(h o" the oppressed creature,: )ill there !e a more !eauti"ul de"initionV These are )ords o" Aar& Si(h: speechless moan that hopes to hear the divine music4 the music that4 i" heard4 )ould !rin( us :o%N That is )h%4 !e"ore !ein( a s%stematic4 anal%tical4 rational and quali"ied speech4 theolo(% is an emotional and e&istential sa% that emer(es "rom the !o)els o" the !odies as a cr%: ]si(h o" the oppressed creature, 1D

Theolo(% is a (ame that is pla%ed )hen li"e is at sta*e -t is much more than a supposedl% scienti"ic discourse settled !% time -t (oes !e%ond the limits o" institutional )alls -t happens out there )here lives are !ein( lived Tust !ecause it is precisel% the search "or a lovin( order 2ordo amoris/4 !% announcin( hope"ull% the a!sent4 theolo(% e&presses s%m!ols o" !eaut% -ts speech does not aspire to create convincin( ones !ut lovers +nd precisel% :ust !ecause it is a natural activit% inherent to ever% human !ein(4.B it can !e practicall% "ound ever%)here4 under the most diverse "orms o" e&pression No)4 )hich implications e&ist "or the theolo(ical doin( that intents to thin* a!out itsel"4 a!out its place in the )orld R an attitude that can !e called here as a scienti"ic perspective o" theolo(%V +s alread% mentioned4 theolo(% must reali'e that it is4 "irst4 an activit% inherent to ever% human !ein( and that it see*s4 "irst4 to ans)er the human quest "or meanin( and that in this quest "or meanin(4 its d%namics involves hope4 a!sence4 !eaut%4 poetr% Secondl%4 )hile actin( in its scienti"ic perspective4 the tas* o" theolo(% is to understand the reli(ious phenomenon in its diverse "orms o" e&pression4 and it has the political tas* o" ma*in( its speech a!out a desired utopian order !ecome a realit% That is )h% thin*in( a pu!lic theolo(% 2somethin( that is Mcomin( into "ashionN in the @ra'ilian theolo(ical "ield/4 or even !etter4 rethin*in( the Ki!eration Theolo(%4 concerned )ith current social issues re(ardin( human ri(hts4 ethics in societ%4 the di""erent "orms o" violence4 the questions pertainin( to pu!lic health4 housin(4 econom%4 di(nit%4 is so important toda% That is )h% theolo(% maintains the tension !et)een hope
.S .B

Thus theolo(% in its scienti"ic perspective has a dou!le tas* The "irst one is to understand the reli(ious phenomenon in its various "orms o" e&pression This search "or understandin( happens as "rom its e&pression4 traditions4 herita(e4 impact on societ% and on the !ehavior o" people as "rom its understandin( as an activit% inherent to human !ein( in several instances4 )hile quest "or meanin(4 discourse o" hope4 )ithout su!tractin( the pleasure its s%m!ols o" !eaut% produce -n this respect4 theolo(% can come into "riction )ith the man% sciences o" reli(ions 2in )hich it can "eed o""/ )hich have made reli(ion an o!:ect o" stud% Lo)ever4 these man% sciences o" reli(ion usuall% do not reali'e the comple&it% o" the phenomenon R "ra(mentin( o"ten their approaches in speci"ic reduction in ta&esR and pa%in( too little attention to the issue o" tradition and le(ac% that also made it the phenomenon it is The second tas* o" theolo(% is there"ore political: to ensure that its speech a!out a ne) social order !ecomes real 6" course4 this tas* can !ecome a ris*4 especiall% )hen theolo(% !ecomes a servant o" institutions and is used to satis"% the desire o" a "e) -n an% case4 the prophetic character o" theolo(ical thou(ht remains4
1D

+KOES4 1DDE4 p .GG3.GE +KOES4 1DDE4 p 1D

RE@K-N4 1DDB4 p .EC3.ES

Revista Eletrnica do Ncleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo da Faculdades EST Disponvel em: http://periodicos est edu !r/nepp

Protestantismo em Revista, So Leopoldo, RS, v. 27, jan.-abr. 2012

pro!lems to solve: the question o" the concept o" pu!lic rather than the concept o" li!eration4 )idel% *no)n and si(ni"icantl% more important 2see the histor% o" Katin +merican people/ than the notion o" the pu!lic5 ma*in( its speech audi!le to the chan(in( times4 !oth in terms o" lan(ua(e and in terms o" audience 2a !i((er challen(e %et/ So "ar4 - am not sure pu!lic theolo(% is a (ood road to !e ta*en speci"icall% in Katin +merica Thus there are also those amon( the %oun(er (enerations )ho identi"% the need to reco(ni'e a theolo(% o" dail% li"e and rethin* the Ki!eration Theolo(% "or the ne) conte&t that has !een outlined +s \athlen Kuana de 6liveira and Oal7rio 0uilherme Schaper said4 the Katin +merican Theolo(% is a theolo(% on the move 1G -t chan(es as "ar as the soil "rom )hich it sprin(s chan(es as )ell +n%)a%4 the di""erence !et)een the proposals )ill not !e solved in a matter o" )hich one !etter corresponds to the contemporar% )orld5 it is rather a re"lection o" pluralit%4 diversit% and comple&it% o" thou(ht and )a%s o" actin( Zltimatel%4 "ollo)in( Ru!em +lves, perspective4 )hat reall% matters to the theolo(ians )ho )ish to en(a(e in a scienti"ic approach is not missin( the simplicit% or the humanit%4 neither the ma(ic nor the prophec% )hich ma*es theolo(% an indispensa!l% interestin( (ame to !e pla%ed )hen li"e is at sta*e

as Ru!em +lves said4 MPhat )e )ant is to live not onl% in the nostal(ia and the !eaut% o" the s%m!ol4 !ut )e )ant these s%m!ols o" !eaut% to !ecome a realit% "or the )orld in )hich )e liveN 1. (oncluding Remar,s 6!viousl%4 this theoretical summar% provided here is super"icial and it onl% tan(ents issues )hich the theolo(ian deals )ith underminin( depth4 )ithout considerin( all nuances o" the critics and proposals Ru!em +lves presents to the contemporar% theolo(ical thou(ht 11 Aore questions )ere raised than ans)ers provided Lo)ever4 Ru!em +lves, theolo(ical thou(ht points out some directions: . 2Re3/thin*in( theolo(% as a human science leaned on reli(ious e&perience4 its s%m!ols4 le(acies and hopes4 1 2Re3/thin*in( a theolo(% "ocused on the social dail% li"e4 the realit%4 a theolo(% that is !orn o" the !o)els o" people )ho can spea* "rom them and "or them4 H 2Re3/thin*in( a theolo(% that does not lose its "ascination )ith the m%ster%4 a theolo(% that sustains its poetic "reedom and its prophetic criticalit%4 i e 4 a theolo(% that is4 "irst o" all4 !eauti"ul !ecause it is "rom dreams o" !eaut% that lovers are !orn o" 1H These perspectives have !een delineated !% ne) (enerations o" theolo(ians4 )hose thin*in( has particularl% turned itsel" to a need "or conte&tuali'ation4 in order to ima(ine a conte&tual theolo(% rooted in dail% li"e Some su((est a *ind o" pu!lic theolo(%4 similar to the movement that has happened in other parts o" the )orld such as in the Znited States and in South +"rica as an alternative to the Ki!eration Theolo(% The% propose that *ind o" pu!lic theolo(% as an evolution or even a su!stitute "or the Ki!eration Theolo(% in an attempt to respond to ne) challen(es Naturall%4 this ne) theolo(ical trend that also redeems terminolo(icall% the pu!licit% o" theolo(% has
1.

WRece!ido em: "evereiro 1D.1 e aceito em: "evereiro 1D.1X

11 1H

RZ@EA +lves: os sm!olos Dire;>o e produ;>o de +rmando ?elia Tr e ?elso Pavarin Tr ?oordena;>o de Aarina Escolar ?ampinas: Odeo +rqui/+@E?4 Ws dX . videocassete 2E. min/4 OLS4 son 4 color ^ GS, For "urther stud%: RE@K-N4 1DDB M- )ant a theolo(% that is closer to the !eaut% than to the truth4 !ecause the lovers emer(e "rom the vie) o" !eaut%4 !ut -nquisitions are !uilt "rom the conviction o" truthN +KOES4 Ru!em ( gestao do futuro 1 ed ?ampinas: Papirus4 .BSC p 1D

1G

S?L+PER4 Oal7rio 0uilherme5 6K-OE-R+4 \athlen Kuana de + Teolo(ia ?ontempor_nea na +m7rica Katina e no ?ari!e: Teolo(ia em Aovimento -n: S?L+PER4 Oal7rio 0uilherme5 6K-OE-R+4 \athlen Kuana de5 RE@K-N4 -uri +ndr7as 26r(s / ( Teologia Contempornea na (m'rica Latina e no Caribe S>o Keopoldo: 6i*os5 EST4 1DDS p C3S

Revista Eletrnica do Ncleo de Estudos e Pesquisa do Protestantismo da Faculdades EST Disponvel em: http://periodicos est edu !r/nepp