Of all the gods in the Golarion pantheon, whose priests/clerics/paladins would be most likely to embrace liberation theology.
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Looking to create an interesting NPC (and backstory) in/from Varisia
You know you're blurring the reality/fiction line, right?
Milani
You know you're blurring the reality/fiction line, right?
And?
You know you're blurring the reality/fiction line, right?And?
There's a certain safety valve in having an entirely fictional game world. If you go bringing in real world theology, you could also introduce real world disagreements.
I know I would find it un-fun if my PFS game was derailed by a theological argument. And because it might involve someone's actual faith, there's potential to offend people.
Be careful, is all.
"Focus on liberation" is basically the MO of every Chaotic Good deity.
I could almost swing a Lamashtu worshiper who wants to free the so-called 'monster races' of the world from their bigoted oppressors. That would be riding the absolute edge of Lamashtu's dogma, but it'd be a breathe of fresh air compared to another Cleric of Milani who never shuts up about breaking the chains of oppression.
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"Liberation Theology" is more about leftism than about actual liberty, so I would say the ideology of Rahadoum, rather than a deity, would fit best.
As a theologian, I can assure you that you are vastly over-simplifying a broad category of systematic and public theology.
OP, I think Milani could work well, but any deity with a strong anti-slaver or anti-oppression bent could work. Halfling gods might be a good choice in-setting if you are near Cheliaxian territory.
Dear Comrade Seas,
I agree with the above brothers and sisters that Milani would best represent Liberation Theologists.
But that's probably because that's who I have under my deity tagline.
La lucha continua y Vive le Galt!!!
Thanks everyone. I had used Desna as a placeholder, but I think I need to take a look at Milani, no matter how much of a cliche that is.
I do think actual liberation theology might be a bit of a stretch, since that was an essentially modern response to worker's poverty, influenced by Marx and the problems of modern capitalism.
I suspect a similar movement on Golarion would be more focused on slavery and other more direct oppressions.
There is a fair amount of pre-capitalism in Golarion already. For example, the lumber company in Sandpoint might be clear-cutting forests. Rapacious extraction of natural resources, labor extraction without fair recompense, etc could be a focus for this NPC.
Since Liberation theology is a Christian theology, it would seem quite unlikely that any cleric of a Golarion god would embrace it.
While that is tongue-in-cheek to an extent, their is a fair amount of truth to it. You really can't separate Liberation theology and it's conflicts from a monotheistic view of divinity. And as others have noted, while some of its philosophical aspects go back quite a ways, it is a very modern theology.
Due to the complexity of liberation theology and the more complex 'portfolio' of an omnipotent god, compared to the limited focus of a Golarion divinity, I would expect that you could find elements of liberation theology that would a large number of the Golarion divinities, ranging from the 'pro poor farmer' Erastil to the 'pro opprossed and forgotten people' Lamashtu.
I would suggest that you narrow your focus down to more specific aspects of Liberation theology that you find appealing, but if harmony with the natural world, love of poor rural folk, basic decency and tight knit communities working together for the benefit of all are what you are focused on, I would say Erastil is the closest match.
And take an unbiased look at what "liberation" means in the aspects you are focusing on. The anti-capitalist, proworker, social reform/ support aspects can fall squarely on the lawful end of the spectrum. To the extent that the flavor you are going for could be called marxist/socialist it would not be supported by a chaotic philosophy.
Standard disclaimer: I am making general statements about a hypothetical, fictional, creed based in part on parts of a real world belief. I am in no way qualified to explain or discuss said real world belief, and am not intending to do so.
Was just thinking about this for a character -- halfling paladin, escaped from slavery in Cheliax.
Hoping to cover more anti-oppression ground than just straight-up slavery, I landed on Erastil, focusing more on the decentralized/grassroots communitarian aspect (vs. strong central/heirarchical church) than on a literal read of "Liberation" as per the domain.