Theology without Deception: God, the Poor, and Reality in El Salvador

In this theological memoir, drawn from conversations with journalist Charmo Mármol, Jesuit Jon Sobrino relates the story of his journey from Spain to El Salvador, and how his confrontation with the poor and oppressed—those his fellow Jesuit and future martyr Ignacio Ellacuría called “the crucified people”—shaped the development of his theological work. Sobrino’s memories are strongly shaped by the witness of the martyrs, particularly Jesuit Rutilio Grande, Archbishop Oscar Romero, and the members of his Jesuit community at the Central American University who were assassinated in 1989 by Salvadoran troops. For all who are familiar with Sobrino’s work, and all who struggle with the meaning of faithful discipleship in a world marked by violence, injustice, and suffering, Sobrino’s frank and soul-searching reflections are essential reading.