OPRESSÃO E LIBERTAÇÃO: A RELIGIÃO LIBERTADORA NAS OBRAS DE FREI BETTO

Abstract

This dissertation research discusses Frei Bettos s history, his relationship with the Theology of Liberation, and his thoughts about a liberating religion as counter point to conservative religion. This research is divided into three chapters. The first one is a biographical survey about Frei Bettos s academic training, his involvement with social actions, and his relation with the Theology of Liberation. The second chapter is a review of Frei Betto s work, Letters from Prison and Baptism of Blood , highlighting his religious and sociological reading about the Brazilian reality of his time. The third chapter focuses on the differences between a conservative religion and a liberating one, their different ways of addressing social reality, giving emphasis to Frei Betto s concept of liberating religion, as a way of transformation and freedom. Finally, the conclusions call for the historical value of the Theology of Liberation, as a way to appreciate the human being as persons prepared to write their own history and intervene in a social reality of their time.