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Liberation Theology in the Philippines: Faith in a Revolution studies the interrelationship of international development policies and local social and economic structures in the Philippines. This ethnography demonstrates that the application of conventional development paradigms to the situation overlooks the human suffering and displacement experienced by the people for whom the policies are supposed to help. By contrast, the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) movement offers an alternative strategy for development that aims to build a more just and community-oriented society, while promoting sustainable development.
The study begins with an historical analysis of the relationship between liberation theology, the Catholic Church, and the nationalist struggle. The remaining chapters look at the real experiences of people living and working in the BECs, as they struggle against some of the negative impacts of traditional approaches to development. In addition, the author illustrates how BECs can fail when environmental and social factors clash with a community's attempts at development, and highlights the theology and religious aspects of the BEC movement. This unique contribution to the study of liberation theology and development will be of interest to scholars, students, and professionals working with development agencies and religious organizations.
List of contents
Introduction
Prologue: The People's Church
Part IPeasant Resistance and Religious Protest in Early Philippine Society: Turning Friars Against the Grain
American Colonization (1898-1946) and Repression of Organized Movements: Continuing the Revolution
Part IICebu's Basic Ecclesial Community Movement's Alternative Plan for Sustainable Development
The Illusion of "Catching-Up Development" in Cebu
Struggle in the Uplands: Christian Farmers in Cebu
Beyond the Dumping Ground: A Critique of the BEC Model as a Strategy for Development in an Urban Site
Part IIIRethinking Marxism and Philippine Theology of Struggle
Conclusion: Participatory Development from the Grassroots
Epilogue: Human Rights for the Poor
Appendix A: "My Life Experiences and Story about Smokey Mountain" by Resident Youth Leader
Appendix B: Interviews with Christian Political Detainees in Cebu (1993)
Bibliography
Index
About the author
KATHLEEN M. NADEAU is an assistant professor and applied anthropology coordinator at California State University in San Bernardino.
