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The Theology of Peace, as developed in El Salvador's Bajo Lempa region, is an extension of Liberation Theology. Although Liberation Theology provided an effective method for addressing the political, social, and economic conditions prevalent during the Cold War, it became increasingly clear by the late 1990s that a new methodology is needed to confront today's challenges. Liberation Theology provided an effective framework for organizing people against oppressive governments, but it is not sufficient for peace building. Human rights work in Central America following the region's civil wars attempted to provide a new framework. However, the methods employed had significantly less impact than Liberation Theology did, in part because its sometimes abstract ideas were not grounded in local principles and values. The Theology of Peace builds on lessons learned from Liberation Theology's tradition, but departs from its Christocentric focus by asserting principles, values, and ethical commitments across different religions and spiritual traditions that are essential to comprehensive peace making. It sees peace, theologically, as the constant recreation of the harmony between God and humans, between humans themselves, and with nature. The Culture, Spirituality, and Theology of Peace Project What is the Spirituality of Peace? What is the Theology of Peace? |