Ecological Impetus of COVID- 19 Pandemic on the Other Creation: A Reflection on the Biblical Jubilee

Abstract

The 2019 outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic left significant adjustments in various aspects of human life, including its relationship with non-human creations in the physical environment. The paper considered the ecological impetus of the COVID-19 pandemic on the other creation with theological reflection on the biblical Jubilee. The method employed was interaction with literary materials and critical analysis of biblical-theological arguments. It, therefore, discussed general views of the COVID-19 pandemic, analysed the concept of biblical Jubilee, identified the ecological impetus of COVID-19 on the other creation, and discussed the theological reflection of the biblical Jubilee. Although the pandemic originated in China through animals, it was discovered that humans and other creations felt the effect globally due to the lockdown measure to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ecological impetus of COVID-19 brought a significant reduction in air, water, and land pollution. The biblical-theological reflection of the Jubilee affirmed that the experiences of COVID-19 resulted in a decrease in air, water and land pollution, indicating that nature was positively affected as it naturally and by divine order for the creation observed a jubilee as a result of the lockdown measure to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. The conclusion is that God allowed the COVID-19 pandemic as a measure for all creations in nature to experience its Jubilee or rest from human ecological exploitations and abuses. It was recommended that humankind should be more responsible in the care of the environment, seek the protection of the other creation in nature and avoid overuse of land resources to ensure the necessary ‘rest’ it deserves for preservation.