Fidel and Religion: Castro Talks on Revolution and Religion with Frei Betto

Fidel & Religion is a particularly unusual theological discussion, consisting entirely of a dialogue between Brazilian liberation theologist Frei Betto and Fidel Castro. Spoken over the course of twenty-three hours, the dialogue reveals Castro's background and his views on ethics, morals, religion, and revolution. Now with a new introduction revealing how Fidel & Revolution helped open the way for Pope John Paul II's historic 1998 visit to Cuba, and the Cuban Communist Party's decision to accept as members those practicing religious faith. Of especial interest are the parallels between Socialism and Christianity that Castro astutely observes. A thought-provoking examination for the sake of the ideals spoken as well as the political and historical importance of the man who espouses them.

I read this when I was in high school and it inspired me to read more on European history, Greek and Roman history, Aztec, Maya, and Inca history and of course on current history. As a high school kid I was very ignorant and politically illeterate until I read this book and it literally changed my life. Today I am a University student studying Latin American history and Spanish Literature and I have to say that this book is still one of the my favorites and of influence to me. Rarely does a book--or interview--take you from Religion to politics to history of Miedeaval Europe to Liberation Theology and back again to Religion. I sincerely recommend this book to anyone who is studying on these fields and/or has intellectual curiosity and wants to get hold of a great text; definetly this one!

As a Leninist, Fidel Castro doesn't believe religion helps, but he also knows that talking with people about religion is a waste of time. What Fidel does here as the bumbling priest wants to explore the glorious of "liberation theology" is Fidel uses it to talk about everything else. Fidel talks a lot about his own experience going to Catholic Schools in Cuba, about education, even about how good playing high school basketball was for his life. Besides being one of the few places where Fidel talks about his own biography, there is a certain joy to this book as Fidel outwits the priest and talks about life, philosophy, education, sports, colonialism, and much more.