The fifth Discernment and Radical Engagement (DARE) Global Forum commenced on 27 January in Harare, Zimbabwe. The first DARE forum to take place in Africa brings together 130 participants under the theme “Aftermath: Beyond Liberation,” to explore and transform theological paradigms inspired by liberation theology, addressing biases, traditions, and responsibilities.
Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, General Secretary of the Council for World Mission (CWM), welcomed attendees to what he described as a “cutting-edge platform” for interdisciplinary, interreligious, and intersectional dialogue among scholars, activists, and practitioners committed to liberation and decolonisation. He urged participants to reflect on what lies beyond liberation. “The world faces profound challenges that demand theological engagement, particularly as they intersect with issues of economic inequality, technological advancement, and the ongoing struggle for decolonisation.”
Rev. Dr Kupakwashe Mtata, Principal of the United Theological College (UTC) in Harare, highlighted the importance of a liberation-rooted theology in his welcome remarks. “It must be born from our struggles, woven with our histories, and made manifest in action,” he stated, emphasizing the need for theology to challenge systems of oppression and restore human dignity.
The forum’s keynote address, delivered by Prof. Jung Mo Sung from Brazil, provided a critical examination of neoliberalism through a theological perspective. His presentation, “The Neoliberal Theology of Original Sin and the Original Sin of Capitalism,” critiqued the exclusionary nature of capitalism and reinterpreted the myth of Adam and Eve as a symbol of human freedom and resistance against unjust systems. Sung described the “original sin” of capitalism as the prioritization of economic efficiency, social insensitivity, and the desire to accumulate unlimited wealth. He called for a utopian vision in which all human beings are treated and seen as creatures endowed with dignity and freedom.
The DARE Global Forum 2025 continues in Harare until 30 January.