RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTALISM: THE
CHURCH’S ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY PARADIGM
BY:
MOSES KUMI ASAMOAH (REV.)
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, GHANA
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
INTRODUCTION
“The 21st century environmental crisis is
vastly different from any other in human
history”.(Cairns, 2005, p,1)
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
• This implies that the magnitude and the rampancy of
environmental crises around the world today is
incredibly threatening.
• We are however aware that, the natural environment
is the major domain and the source of livelihood for
all human and non-human living things.
• However, human activities in the pursuit of socioeconomic advancement and infrastructure
development have resulted in environmental crises.
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
Examples of environmental crises
• On the international front:
– India for instance has lost 85 percent of her original
forest; and deforestation is a major cause of
modern mass extinction of plants and animal
species (Geisler, 1989).
– The recent tsunamis we have been observing (e.g.,
the recent one in Japan) destroyed houses, and left
many injured and dead (Attorney General Dept.
Tsunami, Activity Sheet, NO3)
Ghana Geographical Assosciation Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
• Locally in Ghana:
– The Ghana’s Daily graphic in its 13th March 2012
edition had its front page , ‘‘The Dead Odaw River
polluted with garbage’’. www.graphic.com.gh
accessed March, 13, 2012.
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
The church’s role
• The church has a role to play to make the
environment more livable.
• For instance the Bible says God created man:
– First to give Him pleasure: Psalm 104: 31 says the
Lord rejoices in all he has made
– Everything God created He said it was good
(Genesis 1)
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
What is the true biblical mandate of the church to
environmental sustainability?
• most religious traditions are environmentally
conscious;
– For instance in Traditional religion, there are taboos
prohibiting people from felling tree or even tilling sacred
grooves.
– In the Christian Bible, God placed man in the Garden and
asked him to till and care for it (Gen 2: 15)
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
• Modern science, economic and political institutions
have however taken the lead in environmental
consciousness ahead of religious traditions.
• This could be due to some factors:
1. Anthropocentrism (White)
I.That the Bible is authoritarian-exploitative and abusive
II. Modern science was cast within the matrix of Christian
theology ( human centered universe)
2. The theological thought that everything in this
earth belongs to God
3. The fear of being identified as a pantheist
4. That there is no environmental crises
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
5. Lack of knowledge that the environment is part
of God’s theology of salvation (e.g God saved
animals also during the Noah’s Flood)
6. Ignorance about the task entrusted to Christians
to care for nature
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
• It is against this background that this
presentation seeks to examine the biblical
injunction of the church to environmental care
and justice
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
Methodology
• Methodological triangulation was deployed in the
collection of data.
• Interviews and discussions were conducted
• Participants :
– Ten pastors from Pentecostal and charismatic
churches were purposefully sampled
– Secondary data were gathered from relevant books,
articles and theses
– Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
Findings 1
• A). Analysis from Interviews
Question: does the church care for the
environment? Explain.
No! The church does not have interest in
environmental care, it has no positive
environmental attitude. The church is extremely
religious. There is only occasional clean up
exercises by some churches (Christian Psychologist)
Ghana Geographical Assosciation Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
“the Pentecostal and the charismatic churches were doing
nothing good to the environment. However, the orthodox
and the Catholics were doing very well. The orthodox
church members attend workshops on climate change.
When there was UN conference on the environment, the
world council of churches sent delegates. Again, some
theologians (orthodox) are writing on environmental
issues such as HIV/AID and biblical perspective, Sanitation
and climate change. There is education by the orthodox
churches to combat flooding, indiscriminate defecation,
malarial control programs and others. They are also
advocating on many platforms the need for all and sundry
to be environmentally conscious” (Christian Geographer)
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
• From their views and other interviewers,
– Most interviewers think the church is not
environmentally conscious.
– That the charismatic/pentecostals have the least
consciousness for the environment compared with
the orthodox.
– That the church can be a partner with other
stakeholders such as government agencies like the
EPA, some NGOs etc to enhance the sustainability of
the environment.
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
Findings 2
B) Textual Analysis (From the Bible)
1. The church’s perspective on ecology is traceable to
the creation theology. God mandates man to care
for the environment.
“ and the Lord God took the man and put him into
the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen
2: 15)
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
2. Biblical Institutionalized Regulations and
Laws.
• The law of the Sabbath for rest of mankind
and animals (Exo. 23:10, 12), Including land.
• The law of jubilee (Lev. 25:23,28)
• The law of harvesting (Lev. 19:9)
• The law of sanitation (Lev. 13;14)
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
• The law on pathological control. (e.g., those with
contageous diseases were quarantined, infected
clothes were incinerated, infected houses were
destroyed Lev. 13:14, 9-11,Lev. 14:43- Human
waste product were were buried.
• Other biblical discourses
– In the New Testament, it is recoded that any tree that
does not bear fruit be cut off
– Noah engaged animals in search for a new habitation
after the flood. Thus animals are important
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
• Jesus cursed the fig tree because it did not bear
fruit.This also points to the fact that Waste must
be removed from the environment.
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
Conclusion and Recommendations
• The church is a major stakeholder in
environmental sustainability.
• That charismatics/pentecostals who draw large
numbers of the publics seem uninvolved in
environmental issues than the orthodox churches
• The Bible highlights on the critical need for
humans to show concern and care for the
environment
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
Recommendations
• As the church contributes in health and
education globally, it could as well contribute to
environmental sustainability by using the pulpit
as an opportunity to educate people on
environmental issues.
• On that note the following recommendations are
made:
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
1. The church could establish animal task force to
care for homeless, sick, wounded or abused
animals. The church could as well build and
manage or partner actively with a vetenary
institutions to care for animals. Again , the church
can help in any resource whatsoever, to revitalize
the zoos we have .
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
2. The church could also take it upon itself to
engage in regular tree planting and growing
exercise at roadsides and in various communities
and also grow a forest at vantage places. This
could also serve as a base for wildlife
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
3. The church could serve as an interest and
pressure group to have a dialogue and engage in
relevant debate to support government policies ,
regulation and laws on deforestation, bush
burning and poor sanitation.
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
4. It could also campaign against indiscriminate
mining and pollution of all forms. This means
clean air and land conservation be pursued.
Policy against waste exported into the country
be promoted.
5. In addition, the church could collaborate with
other stakeholders for a statewide energy
conservation campaign.
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
6. Again through the used of both the print and
the electronic media, the church can preach its
position and advocate for environmental care.
7. Also during its conferences , crusades and
rallies, it could allot a day or two for clean up
exercise and tree planting and growing
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
8. Again, the church could establish a fund from
which scholarships could be awarded to relevant
students to pursue courses on environmental
management, environmental theology and
agriculture.
9. It is also recommended that the church could
provide financial support or partner with
environmental agencies and departments to
ensure environmental sustainability
Ghana Geographical Association Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012
THANK YOU
Ghana Geographical Assosciation
Conference. KNUST 02-04 August, 2012