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Abstract
This Master’s thesis presents a comparative analysis of the philosophical principles and actions of Liberation theology, started within the Catholic Church in Latin America in the 1960s, and the Theology of the Hammer, the core of Habitat for Humanity derivate from Southern Baptist’s denomination in the 1990s. The central argument of the paper reflects on how both faith-based social movements share similarities in the development of democracy and poverty reduction in the country, with an emphasis on Human Rights. In the case of El Salvador, the civil war conflict and following processes of reconstruction and reconciliation were rich contexts for the theologies to work and influence. This research contributes to the current conversation regarding the relevance of Liberation Theology, affecting the religious mobilization of communities and individuals along the continent, and the non-profits role as the complement between the public and private sector, working with particular emphasis in neglected populations.