The Pragmatism of Practical Theology in the Conservation of the Natural Habitat: An Ecotheology Perspective

Abstract

There are concepts which have received little attention in scholarship and important aspects of real-life situations have not been addressed by believing communities. Politicians and policy makers have taken advantage of the laxity on the part of the sacred institution to both exploit and mismanage the natural habitat because the latter is preoccupied with matters of eternity at the detriment of the particularities of everyday life among communities. First, the inquiry will critically engage previous studies that have touched on ecotheology in South Africa (SA) to substantiate my arguments on the failure to address practical issues (hence, practical theology) affecting local communities and the environment. In other words, the study seeks to answer the following questions: (1) what is the contribution of the church in both the collection and disposition of garbage in our cities? (2) what is the relevance of Practical Theology as a field of study in addressing the increase of street loitering and deterioration of sanitary conditions in our major cities? (3) Is it not possible for a church or group of churches to adopt either a community or a street in an effort to maintain it? Second, the present study seeks to decolonize the myth of erecting massive mega churches as if to suggest that God abides in a building. It is argued that the extravagant expenditure by the church could be put to better use by way of awareness campaigns against poverty, poaching, and veldt fires. Ecotheology should encompass awareness on disposing garbage. The present research utilizes the theory of constructivism.