Campolo Institute Social Justice Lecture: Spirituality for Social Justice: Hints from the Writings of Paulo Freire

Using the writings of Paulo Freire regarding his faith, spirituality, and theology, I will discuss the ways in which Freire models for us a spirituality that feeds and is fed by our social activism. I will discuss some of Freire’s religious upbringing and how he came to see himself as a “friend of Jesus” despite numerous conflicts with the Roman Catholic church. Beginning with Freire’s discussion of the Easter Experience and the need to empty oneself of privilege in order to be in solidarity with people, I will then discuss his views on utopia, and the way in which God grants the vision but then calls upon the people to live out and make the vision reality. I will also discuss the primacy of love and its many different expressions in his writings both for activist and for teachers.

Throughout the presentation, I will make reference to my writings on Freire’s Critical Spiritualty and my book (co-authored with James Kirylo), Paulo Freire: His Faith, Spirituality and Theology (Orbis, 2017).