Subject: RE: BHA: RE: An Anti-Terrorist Manifesto
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 12:27:30 -0500


Hi Mark,
 
I agree that the Vatican's crackdown on liberation theology was a tragic sellout, that there remains a need for it, and that a revitalized liberation theology ought to be informed by sociology.  I think sociologists who want our discipline to be emancipatory need to be in much better communication with religious leaders and theologians with whom we can make common cause.
 
But that is hard.  I teach at a Catholic University, and find that the theologians here are much too frightened of "Ex Corde Ecclesiae" to make common cause with a "radical" sociologist.  I have the audacity to write frequent letters to the editor of our student newspaper, espousing such things as genuine diversity, ecumenical dialogue, tolerance for gays and lesbians, etc.
 
Best regards,
 
Dick

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Mark A. Foster [mailto:owner-AT-markfoster.net] 
	Sent: Fri 1/9/2004 2:45 PM 
	To: bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: BHA: RE: An Anti-Terrorist Manifesto
	
	

	Hi, Dick,
	
	Thanks for your message.
	
	At 02:07 PM 1/9/2004 -0500, you wrote:
	>>But I don't think your turning-of-the-tables designation of U.S. actions as "terrorism" and the actions of Al-Qaida et al. as "counter-terrorism" will be widely accepted.  I think it further confuses issues.<<
	
	Perhaps. I will think about it some more. I am trying to do a twist on the "claiming of negative labels" phenomenon and using them positively, e.g., the use of "bitch" by some radical and socialist feminist and of "dyke" by some lesbians. Of course, aside from some possible consciousness raising, those efforts do not seem to have had much of an influence on the common lexicon either.
	
	>>I am a bit befuddled about your "radical sociology of religions."  You write: "The primary objective of a radical sociology of religions must be the heuristic reorientations of faith-based ideologies resulting in humanity's peaceable, but expeditious, emancipation from its U.S. stranglehold."  To the extent that I understand what you mean, it seems to me that you overestimate: (1) the power of sociologists to change the minds of religious ideologues, and (2) the power of reoriented ideologues to emancipate humanity.<<
	
	Basically, I am talking about something like a liberation theology. Unfortunately, the Pope successfully silenced the black pope and the Jesuits, just as he later drove the less radical Matthew Fox out of Roman Catholicism altogether. These days, much of Latin American liberation theology, if that term is still appropriate, has become liberal, even neoliberal, not neo-Marxist.
	
	I should probably clarify my proposal. I am advocating a degree of solidarity between
	sociologists and "conscious" religionists. I will try to rework it.
	
	>>You seem to be buying into that cowboy-battleground metaphor, but reversing the hat colors from the way Bush would have it.<<
	
	Yes, that was intentional. ;-)
	
	>>But I don't think sociologists make very good leaders of populist movements.  Populist movements are very hard to control.  They can be, or become, oppressive towards those who disagree or resist.<<
	
	Not leaders, just collaborators.
	
	Thanks again.
	
	Mark A. Foster * http://markfoster.net
	"Sacred cows make the best hamburger"
	-- Mark Twain and Abbie Hoffman
	
	
	
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