Palestinian Liberation Theology A lecture given by The Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek In memory of Michael Prior “Palestinian liberation theology” by the Revd. Dr. Naim Ateek is an important resource that sums up what liberation theology is about and its importance for people who suffer injustice and oppression based on inherited biblical interpretations and understandings. It is a contextual theology within the setting of the Palestinian tragedy, as well as a liberation theology that has implications wider and broader than that one context. All liberation theologies have three components: Faith, context and response. In the Palestinian context, it was the eruption of the first Intifada against the injustice and oppression of the Israeli occupation that inspired Canon Naim Ateek to try to answer the persistent faith questions that faced the tiny Palestinian community in its everyday struggle in the midst of suffering. The historical Jesus, who lived, suffered and died under the Roman occupation, became the model and hermeneutic that formed the basis on which to build their liberation theology. Naim Ateek was able to help his people to keep their faith and resist injustice, nonviolently, by developing a theology that is both biblically based and theologically sound. The paper continues to point out the areas that Palestinian liberation theology must impact and how it turned into a movement that feels the pulse of the community, and tries to address those issues that impact people’s lives. This movement is now supported in prayer and action by “Friends of Sabeel” around the world. The second part of the paper is a tribute to Father Michael Prior on the tenth anniversary of his passing, whom he describes as a friend, a liberation theologian and a prophet, and a person of moral integrity. A fitting tribute worthy of a great man.
Ms. Cedar Duaybes Co-founder of Sabeel Liberation Theology Center 1