Pharos Journal of Theology ISSN2414-3324 online Volume 103- (2022)
Copyright:©2022OpenAccess/Author/s -Online@http//:www.pharosjot.com
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Christianity and Environmental Care in Nigeria: The Role of
Christians in Addressing Indiscriminate Refuse Disposal
John Arierhi Ottuh
Obong University, Nigeria
E-mail: wibachef90@gmail.com
Doi: https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.103.015
Abstract
Scholars in the field of theology and biblical studies have extensively explored eco-theology from
Genesis creation narratives especially 1:26 and 28. In spite of the good numbers of literature in this
field of study, less is known in the area of contextual eco-theology that focuses on Christians and
environmental care in Uvwie, Nigeria. Therefore, using the eco-theology approach in the
interpretation of Genesis 2:15, this paper examines the importance of Christians’ involvement in
environmental care by using Uvwie Local Government Area of Nigeria as a focus point. Drawing on
the understandings of דַ בָ ע(abad) and רַ מָ ש(shamar) in Genesis 2:15 which are translated to mean ‘to
serve’, to ‘tend’, ‘to dress’ or to ‘care’, it argues that דַ בָ ע(abad) and רַ מָ ש(shamar) are veritable
Biblical and theological bases for Christian involvement in environmental care in contemporary
society such as Uvwie. It shows that Genesis 2:15 implies environmental stewardship and
environmental conservation and as such a theological basis for Christians in Uvwie-land to develop a
positive attitude towards the community and its environment and desist from dumping refuse
indiscriminately in the community. As such this paper contributes to the discourse on climate issues in
Africa. Besides, humanities scholars will appreciate the essentiality of Christians’ contribution to a
sustainable clean and green environment by becoming custodians of God’s creation.
Keywords: Eco-theology, Christianity, environmental care, Uvwie Local Government area, refuse
disposal.
Introduction
Climate change has become a global discussion in recent times especially in United Nations’
meetings. It has been ascertained that human activities in the environment grossly impact climate
change (Mahmoud & Gan, 2018: 1329; Paeth, 2008). The issues of environment and climate change
have also attracted discussion in academia, including departments of Biblical/Theological studies. In
Theological studies, it is called echo-theology. For instance, in the graduate programme of the
University of Notre Dame’s Department of Theology, Eco-Theology is being offered as a course. In
recent times, eco-theology is gaining ground in Biblical and theological debates. For instance, Deane-
Drummond (2008); Pihkala (2016); Darragh (2000); Torretta (2015); Waqainabete (2018:1-28); and
others too numerous to mention here, have extensively discussed the theme of eco-theology. In spit
of this, less is known in the area of contextual eco-theology that focuses on Christians and
environmental care in Uvwie, Nigeria.
Coming down to Africa, especially in Nigeria, the discussion on environmental protection has also
attracted scholarship with a lot of attention focussing on environmental protection. It is so because
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