Summary Of Resistance, Hope, And Liberation In Central America By Pablo Richard

Pablo Richard is the author of Reading the Apocalypse: Resistance, Hope, and Liberation in Central America, chapter 7, in the book: From Every People and Nation. He writes about political theology from the perspective and context of Central America. A Pakistani reader like me, while observing the style, language and approach to the topic, can appreciate as well as question concerning the complexities that arise because of culture, as well as theological differences. These differences obviously are shaped due to one’s language, the understanding of words that evidently shapes the theology including one’s personal experiences.
Though I understand what Pablo Richard means when he states ‘The Book of Apocalypse teaches us today to search for the

Richard gives a profound definition of the word ‘myth’ but the Meriam Webster definition states that it is “a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon.” I am not personally arguing against the definition provided by Richard, but would like to question in what way he sates the certain definition of apocalypse? Second, Richard argues that people from “the third world” are sensitive to understanding the word “myth” but I do not hear any reason/s provided by him. Since Richard considers “myth” to be a reality, he uses “evil” as an adjective and not a noun. He sates “rather, the Devil, the personification of evil, is a myth.” This is a justifying statement but in Richard’s context and, not in my Pakistani context. The reason being that English is not my first language and also that the Pakistani/Urdu language context, the word myth is interpreted as a tale and of course the word “evil” would point to “a” real “Satan” that has embodiment in the form of a spirit- existence as Devil, the fallen angel. Now I will also provide the reasons for these interpretations. The sub-continent has had a history of oral literature and passing down of history via story-telling, which later became a profession, and in the contemporary Pakistani context, is now called the profession of acting. Pakistani myths contain certain beliefs, which can be interpreted theologically, if one chooses to. However, the Pakistani myths are shared as stories. The belief about “spirits” is not a mere ideology, but a reality and, the Pakistani context that comprises of people from other faiths than Christianity, is very adamant about understanding what it means to be demon possessed or what satanic powers or forces mean. Additionally, if one wants to make the claim that the Beast is the political leaders, it is important that one researches the international socio-religious,