ABSTRACT
The term ‘praxis’ is derived from the Greek, meaning practice. Recently it has become a central notion in contemporary Christian thought. In Latin America, as well as in other countries in the Third World, a new Christian theological development drawing on German Christian theologies of hope expressed by such writers as Jürgen Moltmann has been taking place over the last few decades. Liberation theology, as it is frequently called, has captured the imagination of Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. Combining theory with practice, this movement attempts to use the insights of Marxist social criticism to forge a new vision of the Christian message. Most importantly for Jewish—Christian encounter, liberation theologians have gone back to their Jewish roots in the Hebrew Scriptures. Suddenly Jewish and Christian writers find themselves using the same vocabulary and motifs, and this bond paves the way for a shared examination of common religious ideals.
