Plural and Committed to Justice

An Overview of Latin American Theology of Religions

Abstract

This text presents research findings on Latin American theology of religions, including an inventory of key works and authors who have contributed to the genesis and development of this theological perspective. Methodologically, the themes and viewpoints were grouped into three guiding axes of the research: (I) the public significance of religions in promoting peace and justice, associated with the value of mysticism and otherness in the formation of ecumenical spiritualities; (II) the necessity of shifting the theological locus to the realities of Afro-Indigenous religious cultures; (III) the contribution of feminist liberation theology to the debate on religious pluralism. Among the findings presented are: (a) the need for Latin American theology of religions to pay special attention to the articulation between the dialogue capacity of religious groups and the challenges surrounding the defense of human rights and land. This presupposes that ecumenical spirituality requires a dialogical vision, deep sensitivity to issues affecting human life, and a commitment to promoting justice and peace; (b) the recognition that ecumenical spirituality emerging from religious pluralism values mysticism and otherness, influencing religious and social processes and favoring utopian, democratic, and meaningful perspectives; (c) in Christian theology, it is crucial to highlight the centrality of the Kingdom of God as a fundamental category in theological methodology.