A pedagogy of faith : the theological vision of Paulo Freire

This is the first book-length study in English to investigate Freire’s landmark educational theory and practice through the lens of his lifelong Catholicism. A Pedagogy of Faith explores this often-overlooked dimension of one of the most globally prominent and influential educational thinkers of the past fifty years. Leopando illustrates how vibrant currents within twentieth-century Catholic theology shaped central areas of Freire’s thought and activism, especially his view of education as a process of human formation in light of the divinely-endowed “vocation” of persons to shape culture, society, and history. With the contemporary resurgence of authoritarian political and cultural forces throughout much of the world, Freire’s theologically-grounded affirmation of radical democracy, social justice, historical possibility, and the absolute dignity of the human person remains as vital and relevant as ever. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Dedication Contents Introduction Notes 1 Paulo Freire’s Life and Educational Praxis The Brazilian Northeast The emergence of Freire’s pedagogy Revolutionary ferment (1960–1964) Freire in Chile: The radical turn 1964–1969 The “international years”: (1969–1980) Homecoming and late period Notes 2 Freire and the Brazilian Catholic Left Movement Overview The Brazilian church: Pre-twentieth century Theological background The 1920s–1950s: Catholicism enters the public square Catholic action in Brazil New forms of social analysis: The historical turn The progressive clergy Catholic University Youth (JUC) Popular Action (AP) The Movement for Grassroots Education (MEB) Reformist currents from Rome Conclusion Notes 3 Freire and Catholic Theologies of the Person Overview Jacques Maritain Maritain and Catholic anthropology Relationality and community The new civilization and the common good Historical agency Integral education Emmanuel Mounier Personalist anthropology The Personalist civilization Personalist praxis Personalist education Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Theology of evolution Philosophical anthropology Transforming the earth Freire and theologies of the person Freire and Catholic anthropology “Nature” versus “culture” Christians and history Dialogue and relationship Conclusion Notes 4 Freire and Liberation Theology Background and overview The modern roots of liberation theology The Latin American context The Medellín Conference Freire and Medellín Intersections between Freirean pedagogy and liberation theology God the liberator Integral salvation Christian praxis Conscientization as conversion, death, and rebirth The Christian-Marxist dialogue The prophetic church Conclusion Notes 5 Freire, Neoliberalism, and Integral Pedagogy Introduction Historical and biographical context Secretary of education The neoliberal decade (1990–2000) Neoliberal ideology and the “end of history” Neoliberalism and education Freire’s late theology Pedagogy as human formation Pedagogy and the whole person Pedagogy as “coherence” Pedagogy as prophetic action Conclusion Notes Final Thoughts Notes Acknowledgments Bibliography Index