Shouldering the burden of reality : salvation in history according to Ignacio Ellacurìa S.J.

Abstract

Born in 1930 in Spain, Ignacio Ellacurìa S.J. spent forty years in El Salvador, where together with five other Jesuits, was murdered in 1989. Described as possessing boundless intellectual abilities, Ellacurìa did not remain passive in front of the regime of terror that existed in El Salvador. Philosophically influenced by Xavier Zubiri and theologically by Karl Rahner, Ellacurìa developed his own thinking, which he expressed in numerous articles published in various periodicals and journals. His contributions make him one of the leading liberation theologians. In the first chapter of this dissertation I have outlined out Ellacurìa's biography pointing out the salient moments of his life so that the reader will get an insight into the life of this thinker. The second chapter contains an analysis of Liberation Theology, as regards its development and methods. This was essential so as to place Ellacurìa, within the perspective of a liberation theologian. The third chapter expands the major theme in Ellacuria's theology, that of Historical Soteriology. In the fourth chapter, I have analysed how the process of salvation is found in the Church. Finally in the conclusion, I summarised how Ellacuria' s thoughts really shoulder the burden of reality. My method of investigation consisted mainly in reading Ellacurìa' s works published in English, together with other secondary sources such as books and articles about Ellacuria and about Liberation Theology.