Religion and ecological justice in Africa: Engaging ‘value for community’ as praxis for ecological and socio-economic justice

Obaji M Agbiji

doi:10.4102/hts.v71i2.2663

Abstract

This article embarked on a critical evaluation of religious leadership and ecological consciousness in Africa, using the case of the Nigerian Christian religious community. The article argued that the concept of ecological justice lacks strong theological conceptualisation in the Nigerian ecclesiastical community. Therefore, Ime Okopido’s argument in favour of stewardship for the involvement of religious leadership in the pursuit of ecological and socioeconomic justice served as the starting point for this engagement. However, such engagement of the religious leadership and of the faithful should include developing ecological theological concepts, such as value for community, which are relevant to the context and resonate with indigenous cultures. Embarking on ecological activism, a change of lifestyles and finding other concrete ways of protecting the environment and biodiversity could ameliorate the crisis of ecological and socio-economic injustice in Africa by promoting, in particular, the praxis of value for community.

Highlights

The prevalent and endemic challenge of economic injustice in Africa has given rise to the scourge of poverty on the continent
Not much has been achieved with regard to developing a strong Christian ecological ideological orientation and activism amongst the Nigerian ecclesial community in particular; such an orientation might stem the devastating impact of human beings on the environment
The need for a credible ecumenical theology (Gosling [1986] 2010) with regard to ecological and economic justice that is culturally relevant to African communities remains

Summary

Introduction

The prevalent and endemic challenge of economic injustice in Africa has given rise to the scourge of poverty on the continent. Okopido’s presentation, in which he used the concept of stewardship as a theological resource to motivate the church in her engagement in environmental activism, could be said to constitute an entry point for faith communities’ endeavours with regard to ecological and economic justice.

Results

Conclusion