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Christianity and African Traditional Religion in Dialogue; Christianity and African Traditional Religion in dialogue; An Ecological Future for Africa Phemelo Olifile Marumo (21294283) (B.Th.; Hons BA (Theology); MA (Missiology) Thesis submitted for the degree Doctor of Philosophy (Missiology) at the (Mafikeng Campus) of the North-West University Promoter: Prof. Sarel Van der Merwe October 2016 DECLARATION I declare that this thesis is my own unaided work. All citations, references and borrowed ideas have been appropriately acknowledged. The thesis is in submission for a doctoral degree in Missiology at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the Department of Theology and Philosophy of the North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa. No part of this work has ever been submitted previously for any degree or examination at any other university. Student: Phemelo Olifile Marumo (21294283) Signed…………………………. Date………………………… Promoter: Prof Sarel van der Merwe Signed……………………….. Date…………………………… i Preface Caring for the environment has been an inherent part of every society since creation and has extended across different cultures, influencing their worldview. The African perspective belief portrayed the land as the “mother”, who provides and as the abode of people, and the Western perspective, also Christian in nature, similarly considered the earth as the provider. Both perspectives held the earth in high esteem. However, the arrival of globalisation through technology and enlightenment through reason altered man’s perception of the earth. And the earth became an object that could be exploited. That led to the negligence of ecology as understood by postmodernism and nature as understood by Africans. Ecology is, in simple terms, a science that focuses on the study of the ecosystem – a system populated by animal and plant species, people, community and the biosphere. The main task of ecology is to alleviate the burden that has been placed on the environment by the inhabitants of the earth. From an African philosophy, ubuntu was seen as a vehicle that could address the exploitation of nature and fosters instead to bring about love, trust and commitment. According to Mpofu (2002:10), ubuntu encourages collective efforts in order to secure the optimal survival of society and is a notion that is applicable to the earth. This knowledge that is passed on from generation to generation influences the African’s view of the environment and how humanity relates to it. Ubuntu encourages communalism and from that perspective an African is in relationship with the earth and treats the earth as part of humanity and yet this study shows how the African has gone out of his way to exploit and abuse the earth. The same is applicable to Christians who maintains the ecosystem mentality but yet misuse the earth for their own benefit. Christianity propagates what the scripture teaches about the preservation of the earth and on the other hand do the opposite. That is why the study sees similar actions of exploiting the earth from both the Africans and Christians, thereby from the acknowledgement of the actions, contact points of restoring the earth are possible. ii Acknowledgements 1. I dedicate this to my late parents, Rev. Samuel J. Marumo and Mrs. E. Nomaliso Marumo. You prayed and asked God for this, when you were still with me, and now God has answered your prayers when you are with me no more. 2. My academic and spiritual parents Prof. Sarel van der Merwe and Mrs. van der Merwe for your sterling support, uncompromised loyalty, meticulous guidance and wisdom you displayed during my academic years and also during the research and writing of this thesis. 3. My only brothers, Kealeboga and Kago, for your input and great support during my academic years. 4. Dr. Khomotso Marumo, “MamaMarumo”, for being an inspiration and motivator. I am there already. 5. Onkarabile Marumo for just looking at me and smiling. It meant a lot to me. That smile gave purpose to this thesis. 6. Staff of Department of Theology (Prof. Alfred Brunsdon, Dr. Johannes Knoetze and my beloved sister, Tlotlo) for the support and encouragement which words cannot express. Thank you guys, God bless. 7. Kgomotso Neito for the support and motivation, which did not go unnoticed and highly appreciated. 8. Oageng Thebe, my brother, you have really gone the extra mile to show you care. 9. Rev. Lazarus Moncho, you are there “aubuti” - just persevere. 10. Lastly, to the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, the One who controls and owns the missio Dei. God, I asked and You gave; I dreamt and You made my dream a reality; I cried and You came down to give me the solace of heaven which man cannot comprehend. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... (i) PREFACE ............................................................................................................................... (ii) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT......................................................................................................... (iii) CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES........................................ 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Africa and the environment ................................................................................. 4 1.3 Worldviews ......................................................................................................... 8 1.3.1 Earth as the mother ............................................................................................ 9 1.3.2 Biblical perspective on earth ............................................................................. 12 1.3.3 African worldview about the earth ..................................................................... 13 1.4 Discourses facing Africa ................................................................................... 15 1.5 Problem statement ............................................................................................ 16 1.6 Central research questions ............................................................................... 17 1.7 Aims and objectives .......................................................................................... 18 1.8 Hypothesis ........................................................................................................ 19 1.9 Literature review ............................................................................................... 19 1.9.1 Definition of concepts ....................................................................................... 20 1.10 Research Methodology ..................................................................................... 22 1.11 Study limitations................................................................................................ 24 1.12 Arrangement of chapters .................................................................................. 24 1.13 Summary .......................................................................................................... 25 iv CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................... 26 CHRISTIAN PARADIGM AND CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW; THE USE/MISUSE OF THE EARTH .................................................................................................................................... 26 2.3 Biblical Christian paradigm on environment ...................................................... 29 2.4 Paradigms that influence Christianity ................................................................ 35 2.4.1 Pantheism......................................................................................................... 35 2.4.2 Social and justice .............................................................................................. 36 2.4.3 Climate change ................................................................................................. 39 2.4.4 “Care” ............................................................................................................... 41 2.4.5 Stewardship and Christianity ............................................................................ 42 2.5 Christian misuse of the earth ............................................................................ 43 2.5.1 Christians and the animal kingdom ................................................................... 46 2.6 Christian worldview ........................................................................................... 47 2.6.1 View on creation ............................................................................................... 48 2.6.2 View on nature .................................................................................................. 49 2.6.3 View on time ..................................................................................................... 50 2.6.4 View on development ....................................................................................... 51 2.6.5 View on religion ................................................................................................ 52 2.6.6 View on life ....................................................................................................... 54 2.7 Influence
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