Common Evil: Political Economy and the Ethics of Liberation - by Andy Vink Paperback

About the Book

"Christian theology for the common good that critiques the common evil found in economic exploitation and injustice"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Common Evil is an attempt to address a malignant hopelessness that has overtaken our society through a theological analysis that emphasizes concrete manifestations of ideology in history. Part of the struggle of understanding the malaise of our society is a difficulty in connecting the abstract concepts of sinful social structures such as racism, sexism, and neoliberal capitalism to the concrete realities that we experience daily. The common evil, developed from Ellacuría's theological work, provides a language to start making these connections. As we become able to identify and understand these connections, we are able to participate in critical praxis towards alleviating the suffering created by common evil.

From the Back Cover

US$45.00

RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic

RELIGION / Christian Theology / Liberation

RELIGION / Christian Theology / Soteriology

Common Evil

Political Economy and the Ethics of Liberation

Andrew T. Vink

Cover design: Melissa Romano

[Orbis Logo]

ISBN 978-1-62698-641-1

Review Quotes

"Andrew T. Vink's Common Evil offers a much needed and astute vision of what continues to take shape in neoliberalism's ominous wake. He is an unflinching realist who, at the same time, keeps his readers' eyes tenaciously focused on hope rooted in the common good and utterly necessary for human flourishing. This book offers a valuable, timely gift." -Nancy Pineda-Madrid, past president, Catholic Theological Society of America

"In a time when hope seems in short supply, Andrew Vink provides a rigorous and substantial political theology of dissent that can ground real and hopeful action. His retrieval of Ignacio Ellacuria's thought serves as a knife that cuts through neoliberalism's lies and equips a faith-filled resistance that, while countering the negatives we see in the world today, offers a positive vision of flourishing for all." -Michael E. Lee, Francis & Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies, Fordham University

"This book combines rigorous theological reflection with a deep commitment to the cause of justice. Rooted in the legacy of diverse strands of liberative thinking, it offers intriguing and highly topical perspectives for the discernment of injustice, prophetic critique, and humanizing praxis in an era marked by the distortions of decades of neoliberal politics." -Sebastian Pittl, University of Tübingen

"In a time marked by rising economic inequality and political authoritarianism, "common evil" might very well be the term we need to understand and resist the flows of power in our age. Andrew T. Vink's contribution is a lucid and welcome step in that direction. It builds from Catholic Social Teaching, modulated by Latin American liberation theology, and provides a strong critique to neoliberalism as well as alternatives for more humane economies." - Filipe Maia, Boston University School of Theology

Vink expertly treats an exceptionally elusive reality captured by Ignacio Ellacuría -- common evil. From a U.S perspective we have many who have advanced the thinking on the common good. But Vink weaves a Latin American perpective through his work to show the importance of a political theology which both critiques some of our misconceptions while also building on a theology of hope advanced by Ellacuría. In doing so, Vink bridges the global north and global south by showing that the kenotic love of Jesus continues to manifest in deeds as well as words. Vink helps evidence that Ellacuría's thought and prayed with the church of Archbishop Oscar Romero, while showing the love for this same church by dying for it. -Fr. John Thiede, SJ, Marquette University

"Andrew Vink's groundbreaking Common Evil epitomizes the exciting contributions of a new generation of Catholic theologians inspired by Pope Francis and modern-day prophets from Martin Luther King to St. Archbishop Oscar Romero. Vink asks, what happens when America's supposed common good entails the dehumanizing evils of widespread homelessness, transgender suicide, migrant scapegoating, media dedicated to spreading lies, and the marginalization of LGBTQ+ persons by the Catholic and other churches? Vink's remarkable book repristinates the common good of Catholic Social Teaching, Aristotle, Aquinas, and Lonergan in a political theology of dissent grounded in the philosophy of liberation of Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J. and others. Here the hopes and dreams of American youth culture meet their counterparts in the struggles of families is survive and thrive in the face of a system rigged against them." -Robert Lassalle-Klein, author, Blood and Ink: Ignacio Ellacuría, Jon Sobrino, and the Jesuit Martyrs of the University of Central America

"Dr. Vink masterfully engages contemporary issues in American culture by drawing on the thought of Ignacio Ellacuría (1930-1989), the Jesuit martyr and political theologian. Ellacuría's social critique of ideology performatively embodies what Lonergan means by critical realism. Drawing on the work of Robert Doran (1939-2021) and following Lonergan, Vink demonstrates how common evil is a systematic dehumanization of the common good. The common good is understood as the integration of a scale of values--vital, social, cultural, personal, and religious. Vink articulates how each part of this scale is distorted as a particular manifestation of common evil. He emphasizes how certain philosophical ideas, such as neoliberalism, can unwittingly perpetuate common evil. Hope lies in the grace enacted by what Lonergan calls the law of the cross, exemplified by Ellacuría in the sufferings of the crucified people. Social (humanizing) praxis cooperating with grace offers hope to restore the common good in the context of the unfolding Reign of God. This is a relevant and thoughtful study for our time!" -John D. Dadosky, Regis-St. Michael's Faculty of Theology, University of Toronto

About the Author

Andrew T. Vink holds a PhD in systematic theology from Boston College and master's degrees in theology and philosophy from Marquette University. A Roman Catholic, Vink has served as adjunct professor at Mount St. Mary's University and lecturer at Marymount University.