A faith perspective on taking the sanctity of nature seriously

“As Africans, we live together on a vast and beautiful continent where the human story began. All of us are linked to the first human who walked upright, dreamed, thought and co-existed with plants, animals, rivers, oceans and forests. Today this common humanity and its future is in serious danger. South Africa cannot ignore this challenge,” the Climate Justice Charter declares in its introduction. 

A central tenet of all faiths is for all life to be safeguarded, and for humans to strive for balance and harmony with the natural world. In scientific terms, this means that biodiversity and our ecosystems must be allowed to thrive with minimal interference, and that every effort is needed to avert the climate crisis. 

The Climate Justice Charter calls all who care about human and non-human life “to act together in advancing a pluri-vision – of people’s dreams, alternatives and desires for a deep just transition”. The missiologist and theologian, David Bosch, in his book entitled Church and Missions, defined the “mission of God” as the healing of a broken relationship between God and the entire creation. 

The desire for a “deep, just transition” is also reflected in many sacred texts, from the descriptions of redemption to the reconciliation with God. The Christian tradition explains that the fall of humankind and exclusion from the Garden of Eden negatively impacts all creation. 

It is easy to transpose this allegory to the climate crisis. Science has shown, through decades of evidence, that human activities are the cornerstone of climate change and its associated disastrous impact on all creation. It is the actions of humans, which bring about excessive greenhouse gas emissions, that have contributed to the disastrous impact of global warming on Earth’s community. 

The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) was established when faith leaders from across South Africa gathered to discuss a multi-faith response to the destruction wrought by humanity’s disconnect from nature. They resolved to create a means by which to exhort people of faith to play their part in restoring our relationship – a deep, just, sacred transition – with the Earth community.

Sacred texts go into a lot of detail about how human beings have been instrumental in bringing about the suffering of all other living things. Across the faiths, texts warn us that human beings are, and will be, solely responsible for the destruction of creation. It is written in the Christian Bible, 2 Chronicles 7: 14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 

As people of faith, we interpret this in our modern context to mean that human beings need to change their behaviour – dramatically and immediately. 

The first goal of the Climate Justice Charter is to “Advance an awareness that we thrive and co-exist on one planet. Earth is a common home for all species. Thus, we seek to affirm our role and responsibilities as guardians of our planet’s ecosystems and the delicate web of life it supports.” This guardianship goal is a hallmark of SAFCEI’s work, as we build awareness in communities, and campaign and engage in litigation. 

Industrial food production, with high chemical input in the form of herbicides, fertilisers and pesticides, leaves the ecosystem broken and is a threat to human health. Small-scale farmers need to be supported in returning to green production, with sufficient and nutritious food.