Decolonizing Theology in Revolution: A Critical Retrieval of Sergio Arce´s Theological Thought PDF
Preview Decolonizing Theology in Revolution: A Critical Retrieval of Sergio Arce´s Theological Thought
New Approaches to Religion and Power DECOLONIZING THEOLOGY IN REVOLUTION A Critical Retrieval of Sergio Arce´s Theological Thought Ary Fernández-Albán New Approaches to Religion and Power Series Editor Joerg Rieger Nashville, TN, USA While the relationship of religion and power is a perennial topic, it only continues to grow in importance and scope in our increasingly globalized and diverse world. Religion, on a global scale, has openly joined power struggles, often in support of the powers that be. But at the same time, religion has made major contributions to resistance movements. In this context, current methods in the study of religion and theology have created a deeper awareness of the issue of power: Critical theory, cultural studies, postcolonial theory, subaltern studies, feminist theory, critical race theory, and working class studies are contributing to a new quality of study in the field. This series is a place for both studies of particular problems in the relation of religion and power as well as for more general interpretations of this relation. It undergirds the growing recognition that religion can no longer be studied without the study of power. More information about this series at http://www.palgrave.com/gp/series/14754 Ary Fernández-Albán Decolonizing Theology in Revolution A Critical Retrieval of Sergio Arce’s Theological Thought Ary Fernández-Albán Seminario Evangélico de Teología Matanzas, Cuba New Approaches to Religion and Power ISBN 978-3-030-02341-6 ISBN 978-3-030-02342-3 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02342-3 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018961379 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG, part of Springer Nature 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover credit: Deborah Benbrook / Alamy Stock Photo This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland To the memory of my parents, Miriam and Ary A cknowledgments This book is the result of many years of researching the work of Sergio Arce, a Cuban Presbyterian pastor and theologian, whom I had the privi- lege to meet, and who was my first contact with Christian theology and one of my main influences as a theologian. I thank God for the opportunity to be part of the Presbyterian- Reformed Church in Cuba, and to be exposed to the teaching and witness of pastors, theologians, and lay people who encouraged me to find the concrete meaning of the Gospel in daily life. I want to thank the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba, which I serve as a pastor, for supporting me with prayers during my doctorate studies in Toronto. I appreciate the vision, courage, and faith of its leaders, who gave permission to do postgraduate studies abroad, even though there were not enough ordained ministers in the country to pastor churches. I am very grateful to my mentor and dear friend, Dr. Reinerio Arce-Valentín, former principal of the Seminario Evangélico de Teología, in Matanzas, for trusting me, and for knocking the right doors that allowed me to do a doctorate at the Toronto School of Theology. I think that with this book, I can humbly reciprocate, in some way, the trust and unre- stricted support he has always showed me. I also want to acknowledge Emmanuel College and Knox College, in the person of their principals Dr. Peter Wyatt and Dr. Dorcas Gordon, respectively, and both faculties for their permanent and kind support. In a similar vein, I sincerely appreciate the financial and logistic sustenance received from The Presbyterian Church of Canada and The United vii viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Church of Canada for making it possible for my wife Dr. Beidy Casas- Aragón and me to start and finish our programs. I deeply thank my professor and thesis director Dr. Lee Cormie for his critical observations and insights, encouraging comments, and wise direc- tion, which went beyond writing this book. I also want to express my immense gratitude to Dr. Néstor Medina for his unconditional friendship and support, for his permanent willingness to engage in theological dia- logue, and, especially, for his tireless help reading the manuscript and sug- gesting very meaningful changes. This list would not be complete without mentioning my wife Beidy Casas-Aragón, to whom I feel very thankful for her love, companionship, intellectual collaboration, and partnership in ministry, particularly during these long years of studying, researching, and writing this book. c ontents 1 I ntroduction 1 2 Situating the Debates Between Worlds: Concerning the Socioeconomic, Political, and Ecclesial Contexts of Pre-revolutionary Cuba and the First Years of the Revolution 13 Introduction 13 Socioeconomic and Political Contexts of Pre- revolutionary Cuba 13 1959–1963: From a Triumphant Populist and Nationalist Rebellion to a Socialist (Marxist- Leninist) Revolution 20 Cultural, Sociopolitical, and Theological Features of Cuban Protestantism Before the Revolution 28 The Protestant Church(es) in a Revolutionary Situation 36 Conclusion 42 3 Sergio Arce’s Theology in Revolution: Main Influences and Stages of Development 43 Introduction 43 Sergio Arce’s Intellectual/Ideological and Religious Formation 43 A Theological Itinerary: Sergio Arce’s Theology in Revolution 50 1961–1968: Emergence and Founding of a Cuban Revolutionary Theological Perspective 51 1969–1978: Formalizing Theology in Revolution 58 1979–1989: Consolidation of the Theology in Revolution 66 1990–1999: Re-contextualization of Theology in Revolution 71 Conclusion 79 ix x CONTENTS 4 Theology in Revolution: A Revolution in Theology 81 Introduction 81 Historical Praxis of Liberation and Theological Discourse 82 Salvation and Historical Projects of Liberation 89 History of Salvation or Salvation of History? The Historical Character of Salvation and the Salvific Integration of History 90 The Integral (Holistic) Character of Salvation/Liberation 93 The Triune God’s Preferential Option for the Poor Through the Revolution 97 The Cuban Socialist Revolution as a Historical Project of Liberation 100 Work as Spiritual Fulfillment and Christian Witness 102 The Idolatrous and Anti-Christian Character of Capitalism: The Denial of God and the Human Condition 106 Re-ideologizing Faith and Theology 109 The Prophetic Character of Marxist Atheism 114 Conclusion 117 5 Cuba and the Global Context Since the 1990s: New Challenges, Voices, and Theoretical Developments 119 Introduction 119 Cuba and the Challenges of the New Global Scene 121 Panoramic Changes in the World Context 121 Cuba’s Reform, Re-creation, and Re-insertion into the Global Scene 125 The Sociopolitical and Economic Dimensions 125 Sociocultural (Re)configurations 131 Theoretical and Theological Shifts and Developments 138 Proliferation of Liberation Theologies 138 The “Decolonial Turn” as a “New” Promising Epistemological and Interpretive Framework for Liberation Theologies 142 Conclusion 149 6 Sergio Arce’s Legacy and Inspiration to the Renewal of Theology Today 151 Introduction 151 Theology as Necessarily Practical and Pastoral 153 Theology as Concrete and Contextual 155 Theology as Biblical Hermeneutics in a Cuban Interpretive Key 158
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