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The Sacredness of Human Life: Why an Ancient Biblical Vision Is Key to the World's Future

Book by David P. Gushee · 1 quotes · Liberation Theology, Oppressor, Slaveholder

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The Sacredness of Human Life: Why an Ancient Biblical Vision Is Key to the World's Future Quotes

“I just called the slaveholder version of Christianity "false." I believe that. But note that in situations of conflict participants view reality differently. The more intractable the conflict, especially where both sides have the capacity to hurt each other, the more difficult it is to determine who is "victim" and who is "oppressor." Think about how nothing is quite as predictable and fruitless as hearing estranged spouses blame each other for being abusive or oppressive. Liberation theology dealt with this perceptual gulf in conflicted situations by speaking of the "epistemological privilege of the poor/oppressed." This meant: the view of the truth of a conflictual situation is clearer from the underside than from the position of power. But this assumes that we know who is on the underside and who holds the power. I am not saying that the exodus-liberation-deliverance motif is invalidated; I am saying that few situations present themselves to us in such clarity as Exod. 1-2 enslavement and infanticide do.”

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Book:The Sacredness of Human Life: Why an Ancient Biblical Vision Is Key to the World's Future
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