Christianity and African Traditional Religion in dialogue

194 Pages·2017·2 MB·English

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
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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 of spiritualism on the environment ..................................................... 56
2.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 57
CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................. 58
AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION (ATR) PARADIGM; WORLDVIEW AND THE
USE/MISUSE OF THE EARTH ............................................................................................... 58
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3.1 Background ...................................................................................................... 58
3.2 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 62
3.3 Supreme Being ................................................................................................. 64
3.4 Creation of the earth and man .......................................................................... 67
3.5 Ancestorism and divinities ................................................................................ 68
3.6 Sin and Salvation .............................................................................................. 71
3.7 Water and healing ............................................................................................. 72
3.8 African traditional religion and the misuse of the environment ........................... 73
3.8.1 African traditional religion and the environment ................................................ 75
3.8.2 The natural world .............................................................................................. 76
3.8.3 The land ........................................................................................................... 77
3.8.5 Trees, forests and mountain forests .................................................................. 79
3.8.6 Water bodies/wetlands...................................................................................... 80
3.9 African worldview .............................................................................................. 82
3.9.2 View on nature and life ..................................................................................... 84
3.9.3 View on time ..................................................................................................... 86
3.9.5 View on religion ................................................................................................ 88
3.10 African traditional religion and ubuntu ............................................................... 88
3.11 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 90
CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................... 91
EARTH AS THE MOTHER AND CONTACT POINTS ............................................................. 91
4.1 Background ....................................................................................................... 91
4.2.1 Earth and ecology ............................................................................................. 93
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4.2.2 Mother Earth and the Supreme Being ............................................................... 94
4.2.3 Mother Earth as earth deity ............................................................................... 96
4.2.4 Mother Earth as woman .................................................................................... 98
4.2.5 Mother Earth and sin ........................................................................................ 99
4.2.6 Mother Earth and goddess ................................................................................ 99
4.2.7 Mother Earth and rituals .................................................................................. 101
4.2.8 Mother Earth and climate change in Guinea Bissau (Diola) ............................ 102
4.2.9 Mother Earth and spiritualism ......................................................................... 104
4.2.10 Mother Earth and ubuntu ................................................................................ 105
CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................................... 107
BIBLICAL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ................................................................... 108
5.1 Background .................................................................................................... 108
5.2 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 110
5.3 Missio Dei and creation................................................................................... 110
5.3.1 Man as king and priest of creation .................................................................. 113
5.3.2 Man as servant of creation .............................................................................. 114
5.3.3 Missio Dei and stewardship ............................................................................ 115
5.4 Biblical stewardship ........................................................................................ 118
5.4.1 Stewardship in Psalm 104 .............................................................................. 119
5.4.2 Stewardship in John 1 .................................................................................... 126
5.4.3 Stewardship in 2 Peter 3:10-13 ....................................................................... 126
5.5 God’s love for the environment (creation) ....................................................... 128

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5.5.2 God’s response to man’s uncaring attitude ..................................................... 134
5.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 1385
CHAPTER SIX………………………………………………………………………………….139
MISSIONAL PARADIGM ON EARTH PARADIGM………………………………………………139
6.1 Background .................................................................................................... 139
6.2 Contact points between African traditional religion and Christianity ................ 142
6.2.1 Mother-earth and Communalism ..................................................................... 143
6.2.2 Creation and Religion ..................................................................................... 144
6.2.3 Western Development .................................................................................... 144
6.2.4 Stewardship .................................................................................................... 145
6.3 Ecological Missional Paradigm Formation ...................................................... 146
6.4 Daneel and earth-keeping ............................................................................... 159
BIBLIOGRAPHY / REFERENCES ........................................................................................ 166

viii
CHAPTER ONE

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The chapter will entail the historical background and developments on preservation of the earth.
Preservation of the earth is not a new phenomenon among Christians and African traditional
religion. There has been previous initiatives from different realms being the political and social,
on preservation of the earth. That is why this chapter will be highlight these historical and
present endeavours on how different groupings tried to come about with means of preservation
of the earth. Despite the groupings efforts of implementing strategies, policies, plans and
methods of preserving the earth, the earth’s condition has deteriorated.
1.1 Background
Ecology and the environment have been of concern globally in various forums, sectors and
institutions. These sectors include the political, the social and even the religious arenas. Seeking
to address the concern, the 1989 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit became the event for paving the
way forward for planning, education and negotiations among all member states of the United
Nations (UN). This endeavour resulted in the adoption of Agenda 211, with its wide-ranging
blueprint measures of action for sustainable development programmes on global environmental
issues. Upon its conclusion, Maurice Strong, the Conference Secretary-General, called the
summit a “historic moment for humanity”. Despite the weakening of Agenda 21, by compromise
and negotiation, it remains the most comprehensive and effective programme of action ever
sanctioned by the international community to redress environmental issues2, if implemented and
adopted by all member states.

The above summit gave rise to the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in
Doha, Qatar. The conference did not reach consensus on climate change and led to Todd Stern,

1 “Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be undertaken globally, nationally and locally by organisations of the United
Nations, governments and major groups in all areas in terms of the human impact on the environment. This programme was
strongly reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26
August to 4 September 2002.”
2 Environmental issues refer in this study to climate change; deforestation; global warming; sustainable development, air
pollution and consumerism.
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