A Gestalt da graça e o desdobramento de uma consciência protestante no Brasil: responsabilidade social, ética e humanismo teológico

Abstract

This research aims to examine the movement of theological renewal that gave rise to an ecumenical Protestant conscience in Latin America and Brazil. From the contextualization of Latin American and Brazilian ecumenical theological reflection development, led by sectors of the historical Protestantism of mission, this work aims to analyze the reasons that contributed to the birth of a new Protestant theological language in this context. This theological-ethical language, radically modern, historical and secular, became responsible for promoting sectors of the Protestantism to the affirmation of an alternative political-religious project, aimed at the task of the humanization of life. The struggles of the humanization of life were understood, from the theological point of view, as manifestations, historical configurations of the form (Gestalt) of grace. In this analytical task, particular attention is given to the ethical theology of Richard Shaull. This theological language, constructed from the contextualization of discussions around the theme of social responsibility, promoted by the World Council of Churches (WCC), has given place to a new form of relationship between religion and society, faith and politics. It was from this ecumenical history that ecumenical organizations like the movement of Church and Society in Latin America (ISAL), the Ecumenical Information Center (CEI), and the Ecumenical Center of Documentation and Information (CEDI) emerged. These organisms were a direct consequence, to a great or less extent, of this movement of theological renewal. In this sense they are representatives of a broad ecumenical praxis, which is committed to the challenges of society and with the task of the democratic construction in Brazil. This research, rescuing the unfolding history of the birth of a critical Protestant consciousness, is an analysis of the Brazilian ecumenical praxis and its theological elements in which it is based.