The role of religion in sustainable development : theological reflections on sustainable development goals and Mother Earth
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Sun Media
Abstract
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build on the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) (United Nations, 2015). However, there is a shift in the understanding of sustainable
development as it was stipulated in the MDGs and how sustainable development is defined
in the SDGs. The SDGs are applicable to countries in the Global South and in the Global North,
unlike the MDGs that focused mainly on countries in the Global South. The MDGs focused on
the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, gender inequality, as well as on improving
education, health and forming global partnerships. However, the SDGs integrate the three
dimensions of sustainable development, namely economic, social and environmental. The
SDGs, therefore, include building peaceful, just and inclusive societies, protecting human
rights, promoting gender equality and the need to protect Mother Earth and its natural
resources by combating climate change and protecting oceans and forests.
In analysing the SDGs critically, it is evident that the religious dimension is missing. The
religious dimension is nevertheless critical, as Oduyoye (2001) argues that religion determines
the shaping of the moral, social, political and economic dimensions of many societies in Africa.
Religion influences how people relate to each other and the environment. In the African world
view, there is no separation between the sacred and secular as it is holistic in its perspective.
Religion is an element of people’s identity and it influences the core of the lives of people in
Africa. Hence, an agenda for sustainable development should not exclude religion.
This chapter engages Mercy Amba Oduyoye’s (2001) four central themes of doing theology in
Africa as the theological lens in its analysis of sustainable development goals, with a focus on
understanding Mother Earth. Her book, Introducing African women’s theology (Oduyoye, 2001),
addresses theological themes that entail a holistic approach to sustainable development in
the African context. These themes are: (1) community and wholeness, (2) relatedness and
interrelationships, (3) reciprocity and justice, and (4) compassion and solidarity. These theological themes describe the characteristics of traditional life in Africa of caring
for each other and the environment. The care for the environment and the natural resources
emerge from the religious belief in the need to ensure harmony between the elemental
forces and human beings. Achieving sustainable development, as stipulated in the SDGs,
is a challenge if religion and the spirituality of people in different societies are not taken
into account.
Description
CITATION: Chilongozi, M. N. 2020. The role of religion in sustainable development : theological reflections on sustainable development goals and Mother Earth, in Matholeni, N. P., Boateng, G. K. & Manyonganise, M. (eds.) 2020. Mother Earth, Mother Africa & African indigenous religions. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928480730/10.
The original publication is available at https://africansunmedia.store.it.si/za
The original publication is available at https://africansunmedia.store.it.si/za
Keywords
Africa -- Religion, Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Chilongozi, M. N. 2020. The role of religion in sustainable development : theological reflections on sustainable development goals and Mother Earth, in Matholeni, N. P., Boateng, G. K. & Manyonganise, M. (eds.) 2020. Mother Earth, Mother Africa & African indigenous religions. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928480730/10.