Final answer:
The false statement about liberation theology is that it is a militant form of religion. While it combines Christian principles with activism for social justice, and some adherents faced danger, the movement has significant impacts on advocating for the poor and oppressed beyond causing deaths. It also fostered international movements and feminist theology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Liberation Theology
The statement that is false about liberation theology, which developed during the 1970s and 1980s in South America, is that it is a militant form of religion. Liberation theology actually began as a movement within the Roman Catholic Church and combines Christian principles with political activism to address social injustice, discrimination, and poverty. The movement emphasizes a preferential option for the poor and merges theology with activism for social justice. While it led many priests and nuns to become politically involved to the extent that some lost their lives in political conflict, and it has been criticized for various reasons, including potential contributions to political violence, it is not accurate to characterize the movement on the whole as militant.
Despite challenges and opposition, liberation theology has been influential beyond its origins in South America. It has fostered international movements involving many churches and denominations, and has also informed other forms of social justice advocacy, like feminist theology. Therefore, it has led to more than just deaths but has also had significant impacts on theology and societal discourse surrounding poverty and injustice.
It is true that the activism of liberation theology has had its share of tragedies, with some adherents paying with their lives. However, summarizing its impact as causing 'very little substantial change in society' would not capture the varied and far-reaching influence the movement has had in promoting discussions and actions geared towards creating social change.