Uniting Spirituality and Theology: Jon Sobrino’s Seeking Honesty with the Real
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Year:
- 2013
- Journal Title:
- Spiritus (USA)
- Volume:
- 13
- Issue:
- 1
- Language:
- Abstract:
The mere fact that Sobrino unites spirituality and theology in a deep and considered way is noteworthy. Outside of scholarly circles (and perhaps within certain ones), it is not always recognized that liberation theology is just as
much a spiritual exercise as a political one. This essay has shown the extent to which Sobrino’s liberation theology is such a spiritual exercise—and one which does not separate the spiritual and the political. It is all too clear that theology can become sinful and ideologically driven. Thus, Sobrino’s theology itself is an enterprise in being honest with the real. It is an attempt to see reality as it really is, to engage reality from the perspective of the poor and with the aim of bringing mercy to the poor. Sobrino argues that liberation theology does seek conceptual precision, but even more so it seeks to present reality in such a way to “generate acts of hope . . . move and inspire their addressees to perform acts of justice . . . [and] communicate gratuity. When this occurs, theology has been
practiced with spirit, and has communicated spirit.”
Sobrino’s work provides a model of engaged theology which thoroughly unites spirituality and theology. His theology is “spiritual” in its origin, its
detailed conceptual work, and its final aims. Sobrino’s particular theological enactment both demonstrates the underlying spirituality within liberation theology and challenges his reader to approach theology in a new way. In addition
to the demand to unite spirituality and theology, his particular account of spirituality challenges one to remain grounded in and responsive to history.
- Who (Jesuits):
- What (Subjects):
- When (Centuries):
- Publisher URL:
- Page Range:
- 76–99
- ISSN:
- 1535-31171533-1709
- DOI: