African Religion and Environmental Dynamics: Implications for Human and Sustainable Development

Abstract:

The environmental crisis now encompasses the entire earth. Strangely enough, although the destruction of the sacred quality of nature by modern man dominated by a secularist perspective is directly responsible for this catastrophe, the vast majority of the human species, whether participating directly or indirectly in the havoc wreaked upon the natural environment, still lives within a worldview dominated by religion. The role of religion in the solution of the existing crisis between man and nature is therefore crucial. Furthermore, any discussion of religion and the order of nature, which is interested in healing the wounds of the earth and ameliorating the existing crisis now threatening man's terrestrial existence, cannot but take place on a global scale. In the same vein, there is the recognition that the earth is in danger from human activity and use and changes need to be made in order to sustain life on the earth. Most if not all of the environmental crises are caused by "human carelessness and greed".
It is expedient to state that the environmental issue has a dimension which often times have been neglected and that by virtue of the fact that there are no enabling laws or affirmative actions by both the government and the people. If the issue of human right is taken seriously, it has a way it can impact positively on the environment and this will engender positive development.