Liberation Theology, Research Proposal Example

Thesis statement

Church appears to be an uncaring institution, and the same church being part of those who were suffering.

Purpose of the study

The research focuses on pastoral care in the context of poverty within theological framework. The research facilitates understanding of poverty from view of literature as well as from the experience of the poor themselves. Aim at bringing out understanding of poverty as context in which pastoral care is developed and practiced.

The research studies poverty from painful reality as experienced by poor themselves. The research is of significance because it will be a theology from the “underside of history” (Adams, 2004)

According to (Babble, 2008) today people are divided by the position they take concerning poverty. This sentiments forces one to apply this to all theological fields. Theological concerns like; people also need to be divided by position in which they view poverty, the same applies to pastoral care.

The critique of pastoral care has a disregard of social and political dimensions (Allan, 2005).In most countries pastoral care is practiced and taken as if social and political realities have no influence whatsoever. The church is seen to have not only been apathetic to the social-economic and political evils but also at some instance it supported systems responsible for evils.

Methodology

3.1. Liberation theology

Liberation theology opened new context of methodology of Christian outlook on faith as precise situation in history. The message passed here is that theology should take the experience of the poor seriously (Capps, 2010)

3.2. Pastoral care methodology

This is a narrative hermeneutic model developed by Gerkin.In this methodology model we recognize and appreciate the significance of human needs in pastoral care. Human being is a unique text that must be read and interpreted. In this model care of the entire family and that of individual is recognized (Clebsh, 2006).

Hermeneutic narrative model share most things with the African worldview which values communal life. Majority of theologians call it communal praxis. This qualifies it in carrying out liberation theological research (Barberton, 2009).

References

Adam, G. understanding research methods.2004,new York Longman

Allan, G.Qualitative interviewing in skinner 2005

Babbie, E the practice of social research (2008) London words worth publishing company

Barberton, C.Creating space. The challenge of poverty and democracy in South Africa idasa 2009.

Capps, D. pastoral care and hermeneutics 2010

Christie, P.The right to learn: the struggle for education in South Africa 2006

Clebsh, W.Pastoral care in historical perspective.2000 New Jersy.prentile hall

Clinebell, H.Basic types of pastoral care and counseling.2003 Nashville Abingdon press

Comblin, J .Being human: Christian anthropology.Maryknoll.2009

Couture, P.weaving the web: pastoral care in an individualistic society.2007