A new perspective on spirituality and social change as seen through the work of six visionary thinkers In Liberating Spiritualities, Christopher D. Tirres offers an in-depth exploration of spirituality as a catalyst for social transformation, showcasing the profound insights of six distinguished twentieth-century liberation thinkers from across the Americas. This thought-provoking work examines the contributions of Marxist philosopher Jose Carlos Mariategui, renowned educator and philosopher Paulo Freire, innovative constructive theologian Virgilio Elizondo, influential cultural and feminist theorist Gloria Anzaldua, activist mujerista theologian and social ethicist Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, and groundbreaking ecofeminist theologian Ivone Gebara. Tirres examines the distinct yet interconnected philosophies of these figures, showcasing their unified critique of colonial Christendom and their deep commitment to the marginalized. He adeptly articulates how their diverse religious and philosophical backgrounds come together in a shared vision of spirituality as a fundamental aspect of human life and intelligence. He further illuminates how these thinkers advocate for spirituality as a non-reductive, life-affirming practice, transcending traditional boundaries and offering an integrated approach to faith, culture, and social justice. Their collective insights form a persuasive case for re-envisioning spirituality as a crucial element in the quest for a more just and compassionate world. Liberating Spiritualities is not only a tribute to these six influential figures but also a critical reflection on the relevance of their ideas in today's global context. Tirres's transdisciplinary study bridges liberationist and pragmatic insights, offering readers a fresh, highly original interpretation of socially engaged spirituality, making this book an essential resource for those seeking to understand the transformative power of spirituality in the pursuit of social justice and human dignity.
Christopher D. Tirres is the Michael J. Buckley Endowed Chair at Santa Clara University. He is the author of The Aesthetics and Ethics of Faith: A Dialogue Between Liberationist and Pragmatic Thought and coeditor of Religion in the Americas: Trans-hemispheric and Transcultural Approaches.
Introduction: Toward a Liberating Spirituality 1 1 A "New Sense" of Religion: Jose Carlos Mariategui's Pragmatic Sensibility 21 2 Conscientization as a Spiritual Praxis: Paulo Freire's Implicit Spirituality 36 3 A Cosmic Vision from the Borderlands: Virgilio Elizondo's Evolutionary Cosmology 51 4 Spiritual Activism as Conocimiento: Gloria Anzaldua's Mature Spirituality 67 5 Subversive Everyday Knowledge: Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz's "Conscientized Cotidiano" 87 6 Ecofeminism and Relatedness: Ivone Gebara's Pragmatic Inheritance 100 Conclusion: Spiritual Praxis and the Fullness of Life 109 Acknowledgments 125 Notes 127 Bibliography 157 Index 171
Liberating Spiritualities charts new ways of thinking about the interplay between spirituality, activism, and critical thinking. Focusing on six prominent twentieth-century Latine and Latin American thinkers, Tirres offers a compelling analysis that not only furthers our understanding of key figures across the Americas but also invites readers of all backgrounds to consider the deeper meanings and functions of spirituality writ large. This book is indispensable for people interested in liberation theology, liberation philosophy, and the history of religion and social movements in the Americas.---Joao B. Chaves, author of Migrational Religion: Context and Creativity in the Latinx Diaspora . . .Explores the philosophies of six 20th-century thinkers--among them Marxist philosopher Jose Carlos Mariategui and educator Paulo Freire--who drew links between spirituality and social justice.---Publishers Weekly In this invaluable and novel work of uniquely compassionate scholarship, Christopher Tirres adeptly voices a polyphonic mix of historical context, philosophical and theological analysis, and deeply personal reflections to illuminate profound themes in what he calls a 'critical theory of spirituality, ' set in an expansive Latin American framework that extends into the US-Mexico borderlands. Liberating Spiritualities shows how Latin American religious thought, out of a tragic history and against great challenges, continues to be propelled by immanence--embracing the quest for social justice, indigenous cosmologies, mestizaje, eco-feminism, and a phenomenology of the sacred, in the project of re-imagining faith, banishing hopelessness, and reclaiming human meaning.---John Phillip Santos, Author of Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation Broadening our understanding of spirituality beyond the interior life, Tirres argues persuasively that spirituality is a core feature of human identity and action that involves the whole person. Liberating Spiritualities: Reimagining Faith in The Americas reminds us of the interconnection between spirituality, faith, ethics, and critical thought in light of structural injustice and human suffering. Informed by six liberationist intellectuals, this text offers a much needed theoretical framework for liberating spiritualities, grounded in concrete history and everyday life in the Americas. Liberating Spiritualities is a critical development in hemispheric theology and philosophy.---Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado, Ph.D., Provost & Sr. Vice-President for Academic Affairs, The University of Scranton
