Liberation Theology ‘Versus’ Prosperity Theology

Theology and politics are disciplines that stem from the human need to question the future. Both respond in the same way: by promising paradises in this world and/or the next. In this sense, both aim to fulfil faith, offer hope, and encourage people to adhere to certain beliefs and ideas. It is therefore not surprising that throughout history we find instances where theology and politics collaborate and/or compete. In the ‘modern’ era, we can observe this phenomenon in the Americas. There, the Bible has been used from the 17th century to the present day as part of the political debate on how the social order should be structured. This has given rise to two opposing theological-political visions: liberation theology and prosperity theology.