Sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change in Tanzania? : on cultivating an African Christian ethic of care.
Date
2015
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Abstract
Climate change, in relation to the world of agriculture, has harmed and continues to
harm all forms of life on earth. This study is an attempt to explore ways through which
an African Christian ethic of care can be cultivated to promote sustainable agriculture in
the context of climate change in Tanzania. Using theories of ecological transformation
and of responsibility, also based on qualitative approaches to inquiry, the study argues
that, because the agricultural sector is both a contributor to, and a victim of, climate
change, a comprehensive African Christian ethic of care can make a significant
contribution towards addressing challenges of climate change and environmental
degradation today.
In general this study has noted that irresponsible modern agricultural methods, coupled
with a mechanistic and anthropocentric worldview, have considerably contributed to the
current climatic variability. Furthermore, Christianity through its anthropocentric
theological position has for many years nurtured an unsustainable relationship between
human beings and God’s created order. Due to Christianity’s anthropocentric theological
viewpoint, humankind has been placed above all other forms of life on earth, based also
on the claim that the human being is God’s image-bearer. This has been compounded by
the perceived superiority of Western philosophy and Western scientific knowledge which
has downplayed African philosophy that, on the basis of indigenous ecological
knowledge, embraces some important life-affirming agricultural methods. In this regard,
the study has appealed for the need for an African Christian agro-moral vision rooted in
African wisdom that will enhance sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change
in Tanzania.
It has been further noted in this study that the African concepts of Ubuntu and Ujamaa, as
advocated by Mwalimu [teacher] Nyerere [the first President of the United Republic of
Tanzania], contain ecological wisdom which can be harnessed in order to cultivate an
African Christian ethic of care to promote truly life-affirming agricultural methods, as
opposed to the irresponsible modern farming practices that have been detrimental to
God’s creation and that have depleted ecosystems which support life on earth. However,
the study argues that the successful cultivation of an African Christian ethic of care for
sustainable agriculture needs to be informed by three key factors. Firstly, climate change
and agriculture must be treated as a matter of faith, calling for traditional Christian faith
formation to be revisited. Secondly, climate change and agriculture must be seen as a
matter of Christian mission, hence mission and pastoral formation process has to be
critically reviewed. Thirdly, climate change and agriculture should be seen as a Christian
moral-theological issue which requires a reassessment of the current Christian moral
formation process. The fulfilment of these factors can potentially lead to the formation
of an earth-caring community.
Therefore, the study has proposed that the traditional model of Christian formation,
whose objective is to impart doctrines, traditions and other worldly perspectives must be
reinstated with an ecological Christian formation perspective. The purpose of ecological
Christian formation must be threefold: to strengthen a responsible Christian faith, to
enhance Christian responsible life and to consolidate a holistic Christian mission. This
new formation process has the potential of leading to the building of an earth-caring
community that recognizes faith, doctrines and traditions as fundamentals for lifeenhancing
agriculture and for Christian life in general. On the basis of faith, doctrines
and traditions, faith communities can potentially be able to define the condition of their
natural environment, to identify principles for change and to set up strategies for a
transformation that seeks to enhance all forms of life on earth.
Description
Ph. D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2015.
Keywords
Agriculture--Tanzania--Religious aspects., Christian ethics--Tanzania., Sustainable agriculture--Tanzania., Ecology--Tanzania--Religious aspects., Climatic changes--Tanzania., Theses--Theology.