Critical Role and Place of the Church as a Response to Environmental Crisis.

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Date

2024

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Kabale University

Abstract

Globally, the preservation of the environment is very foundational as far as the realization of the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) is concerned today. There was a time when people in poorer countries thought that the environmental crisis was not a serious problem for us in developing countries. Our problem, it was assumed, was poverty and economic exploitation; the environmental issue was a “luxury” of the industrialized countries (Abraham, 1995). But today we realize how urgent this issue is for the whole world. Therefore by preserving the environment, it would be part of an indicator of being the light and salt of the world (Matt.5:13) while responding to the environmental crisis. However, the environment continues to be badly damaged and threatened by human activities. And, despite the attempts by various local and international organizations, state and other agencies to protect the environment (Sowunmi, 1994), the scriptural contribution has often been overlooked and at the same time, many Christians have become insensitive about it as far as responding to the environmental crisis is concerned. This article therefore has the following pertinent questions to address: how significant and central are scriptures (bible) towards the promotion of environmental preservation? What are the critical implications of those teachings for the church today? Regarding the methodology of obtaining the data, since this is a bible-centred article the scriptures and other extra-biblical sources in relation to environmental crisis will be critically analyzed. Thus this article is to critically examine the place and role of the church based on scriptures and other related religious teachings towards environmental preservation. Implications and recommendations for a contemporary Christian will follow suit.

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Keywords

Environmental Crisis, Ecology, Church

Citation

Rugyendo, M. (2024). Critical Role and Place of the Church as a Response to Environmental Crisis. Kabale: Kabale University.