The Role of Social Science in Theology of Liberation
In the past, the theological instrument usually came from philosophy. However, because of the particular context of the poor and the consequence of the questions of non-persons, social science became an important theological instrument/tool for theology of liberation.
a. Social science has helped in understanding the society that we are a part of and to serve as a mediation of social anthropology and theory of knowledge, each of which have an effect on theological thought.
b. A presupposition of Theology of Liberation that was contributed by social science is the social nature of human existence:
• From the perspective that the person is shaped by society, Theology of Liberation learns from social science that it is important to be critical about unexamined perspectives of any social milieu because these shape our ideas, values and actions (that are related to theology!)
• The social nature of human existence means that no person exists as a private individual only, that persons are social beings and exist in relation to others. In other words, each person is founded on and is of influence to others through his/her very existence and action. This relationship is very important to Theology of Liberation on an interpersonal level and at a wider societal level.
• We discover from social sciences how human freedom creates structures and institutions that we are immersed in, and this analysis reveals the various reasons/groups that support the maintenance of these. Identifying the convictions/foundations of these institutions and structures in human freedom is the pretext for categories such as institutional and social sin.