2013 Articles

A Poststructuralist Liberation Theology?: Queer Theory and Apophaticism

Daniels, Brandy

From an early emphasis on "the preferential option for the poor" and roots in the plight of the economically downtrodden in South America, to a call for the recognition of the "blackness of God," to gendered justice and language for God, liberation theology has foregrounded interpreting Christianity from the lens of the marginalized and stressed a telos of justice and freedom from systemic oppression. While not precluding these laudable values, poststructural theory has raised questions of the viability and efficacy of liberationist aims and methodologies. In this paper, I will examine some key critiques proffered by poststructuralism and gesture toward a potential constructive response that attends to these concerns while remaining firmly within a liberationist paradigm.