CONTRIBUTION OF THE ANGOLAN CHURCH TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION THE CASE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The Contribution of the Angolan Church to Environmental Conservation is both a bibliographical and field research study, aimed at assessing the participation of Christians in humanity’s care for the environment. It begins with a brief discussion on the concept of the environment, from two perspectives: secular and Christian. It establishes that the second half of the twentieth century marks the emergence of contemporary environmental awareness, and it mentions the first scientific work on the environment, as well as its author. The study analyses documents produced by some of the most important international conferences and summits on the environment, sustainable development, and climate change, held between 1972 and 2023. It evaluates the impact of those conferences and summits on the lives of Earth’s inhabitants, with particular reference to Angola. To understand and explain the current attitude of the Angolan Church towards environmental conservation, the research surveys the heritage of biblical and theological interpretations regarding the role of human beings as stewards of Creation, from the Early Church to the Contemporary Church. The study identifies the main factors of environmental destruction in Angola as the oil, diamond, and timber industries, as well as trawl fishing and slash-and-burn practices in rural areas; these are causes of global warming, atmospheric pollution, river and ocean contamination, depletion of fish stocks, soil erosion, and infertility. It observes that within the Angolan Church there is a significant scarcity of written or other forms of documentation addressing environmental conservation. Finally, it makes several recommendations for the active participation of the Church and the Angolan Government.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The journal KWIJIYA: Angolan Journal of Religion, Theology, Society adopts an open access policy, allowing all of its content to be freely available and without immediate barriers to the reading public.
The published texts are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This means that readers may copy, distribute, display, and perform the texts, as well as create derivative works, provided that:
- Proper attribution is given to the original authorship, mentioning as the primary host the journal KWIJIYA: Angolan Journal of Religion, Theology, Society
- The content is not used for commercial purposes
- Derivative works are distributed under the same license
This policy aims to promote the circulation of knowledge, while respecting copyright and encouraging collaborative and ethical practices in scientific production.
References
Alves, D. (2021). Negacionistas da Terra finita. EcoDebate. https://ecodebate.com.br/2021/11/22
António, J., et al. (2011). Os conceitos de meio ambiente. UNESP.
Ayayia, G. (2012). The concept of Ubuntu in African environmental ethics vis-à-vis the problem of climate change. Center for Digital Philosophy. https://philarchive.org
Bezerra, J. (2015). Meio ambiente, impacto e desenvolvimento. http://www.rde2.ufrpe.br
Brown, S. (2006). Los desafíos y realidad en la implantación de AEE.
Braaten, C. E., & Jenson, R. W. (2002). Dogmática cristã. Sinodal.
Bule, M. (2021). Pursuing fullness of life through harmony with environment. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 77(4). https://hts.org.za
Castro, C. P. (2003). Meio ambiente e missão: A responsabilidade ecológica da igreja. Editeo.
Cavassan, O. (Org.). (2019). Meio ambiente. Editora Científica Digital. https://download.editoracientifica.com.br
Cazzomata, R. (2014). Destruição das florestas em Angola: Preocupação do governo e ambientalistas. Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com
C.I.T.A. (s.d.). A igreja e o desenvolvimento sustentável.
Conferência Central de África. (2008). Livro de disciplina da Igreja Metodista Unida (2ª ed.). Editora Núcleo.
Curri, P. (2000). Meio ambiente, impacto e desenvolvimento. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net
Dielda, S. (2021). Meio ambiente e sustentabilidade. Revista de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do INFAME, 15(2).
Dussel, E. (1986). Ética comunitária: Libertar o pobre. Vozes.
Da Silva, F. (2020). Percepções angolanas: Meio ambiente e terra. Universidade de Brasília. https://www.academia.edu
Dos Santos, J., & Imbernon, R. (2014). A concepção sobre natureza e meio ambiente para
distintos actores sociais. Terrae Didactica, 10(12), 151–159.
Endiama. (2021). Meio ambiente. https://www.endiama.co.ao
ESA – Engage Social Action. (1978). Publicação da Junta da Igreja e Sociedade da Igreja Metodista Unida. Nashville.
Ernest, H. (s.d.). Recuperado de https://www.uninter.com
Hunter, R. J. (1990). Dictionary of pastoral care and counseling. Abingdon Press.
Freitas, L. (s.d.). Dicastério para o Serviço do Desenvolvimento Humano Integral. https://www.humandevelopment.va
Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]. (1999). Face a face com a destruição: O que fazer para salvar a floresta.
Francisco. (2015). Laudato si’: Carta encíclica sobre o cuidado da casa comum. Vaticano. https://www.vatican.va
Geisler, N. L. (2010). Ética cristã: Opções e questões contemporâneas. Vida Nova.
Gill, R. (1995). A textbook of Christian ethics (Rev. ed.). T&T Clark.
Gore, A. (2006). Uma verdade inconveniente. Manole.
Gruhi, H. (1975). Um planeta é saqueado.
Gühne, C., & Werner, D. (2024). Religious communities and ecological sustainability in Southern Africa. Globethics.
Kanu, I. A. (2021a). African ecotheology: Meaning, forms and expression. APAS.
Kanu, I. A. (2021b). African ecological spirituality: Perspectives on anthroposophy and environmentalism. APAS.
Kinotti, G. (1994). Hope for Africa and what Christians can do. AISRED.
Klaiber, W., & Marquardt, M. (2006). Viver a graça de Deus: Um compêndio de teologia wesleyana. Editeo.
Konrad, A. (1958). A história política do ambiente na Alemanha.
Lopes, J., & Francisco, R. (2018). The impact of mining on environmental and water resources in northeastern Angola. Journal of Biology and Ecology, 15.
Magesa, L. (2015). African spirituality and the environment: Some principles and orientations. Hekima Review.
Manico, Y., Yoba, & Morgado. (2015).
Mbiti, J. (1990). African religions and philosophy (2nd ed.). Heinemann.
Messeder, A., & Santos, R. (2014). A educação ambiental na história.
Moltmann, J. (2006). Vida, esperança e justiça. Editeo.
Nash, J. (1991). Loving nature: Ecological integrity and Christian responsibility. Abingdon Press.
Oluleye, G. (2020). Environmental impacts of mined diamonds. Imperial College London.
Otchiva – Bienal de Luanda. (2023). https://bienaldeluanda.gov.ao
Pais, A., & Paulo, R. (2002). Desenvolvimento sustentável. https://www.fep.up.pt
Patrística. (1999). https://archive.org
RBGF – Revista Brasileira de Geografia. (2000). Estudo no âmbito dos diamantes.
Ribeiro, A. G., & Cavassan, O. (2013). Conceitos de ambiente e natureza. UNESP.
Rimi, D. (2014). A confident Africa: A new socio-economic morality.
Robbins, J. (2011). Transcendência e antropologia no cristianismo. Religião e Sociedade, 31.
Runyon, T. (2002). A nova criação. Editeo.
Sadikow, A., & Musa, T. (2020). Environmental sustainability: An introduction. International
Journal of Scientific Advance, 1(8).
Setiloane, G. (1992). Teologia africana. Editeo.
Simmons, G. (1991). The ecology of natural resources. ELBS.
Sousa, D. (2001). Vazamento de petróleo e impactos ambientais. Revista de Direito Ambiental.
Souza, F. (s.d.). A doutrina da criação na teologia de Calvino e Barth.
Stückelberger, C. (2016). Global ethics applied: Environmental ethics (Vol. 2). Globethics.
Terrblanché, G. (2015). Ubuntu and environmental ethics. University of South Africa.
Tillich, P. (1954). Love, power and justice. Oxford University Press.
Vatican News. (s.d.). https://www.vaticannews.va
Wesley, J. (s.d.). Sermões de John Wesley. Centro de Estudos Wesleyanos.
White, C. (1995). The theological roots of ecological crisis. In R. Gill (Ed.), Christian ethics.
White, L. (1967). The historical roots of our ecological crisis. Science, 155, 1203–1207.
Zinga, C. (2012). A desflorestação em Cabinda (Dissertação de mestrado). Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
ARTIGOS E DOCUMENTOS INSTITUCIONAIS
Acordo de Paris. (2015).
Cimeira de Estocolmo. (1972).
Cimeira do Rio de Janeiro. (1992).
Cimeira Mundial para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável. (2002).
Rio+20. (2012).
Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa [CPLP]. (s.d.).
COP 21. (2015).
COP 27. (2022).
Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]. (2009). Monitorização dos recursos florestais de Angola.
Lei n.º 5/98 de 19 de Junho. Lei de bases do ambiente (Angola).
Decreto Presidencial n.º 190/12. Gestão de resíduos.
Decreto n.º 39/00. Actividades petrolíferas.
Decreto Presidencial n.º 171/18. Regulamento florestal.
Ministério do Ambiente de Angola. https://sia.minamb.gov.ao
Jornal de Angola. (2018–2023).
Novo Jornal. (s.d.). https://novojornal.co.ao
Televisão Pública de Angola [TPA]. (2022).
ENTREVISTAS
Gomes, A. R. (2024). Entrevista pessoal.
Kyia, F. (2024). Entrevista pessoal.
Manuel, F. (2024). Entrevista pessoal.
Vinte e Cinco, G. (2024). Entrevista pessoal.
Afonso, G. (2024). Entrevista pessoal.
Fonseca, J. G. (2024). Entrevista pessoal.