CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND ECOLOGICAL CRISIS: THE CASE OF BUSH BURNINGIN BILIRI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Indiscriminate bush burning is one of the major ecological problems confronting many communities in Gombe State; this issue which requires multidimensional approaches has not received much attention from Christian environmental ethical viewpoint. Therefore, this study investigated the issue of indiscriminate bush burning in Biliri Local Government Area (BLGA) from Christian environmental ethical perspective with a view to ascertain the level of Christians’ involvement, their reasons for engaging in it, their awareness of Christian ethical implication of the act, and the willingness of Christians to desist from it. Christian environmental stewardship theory was adopted for the study. Data were gathered through interview, textbooks, journal articles, and news media, and subjected to content analysis and ethnographic summaries. Majority of the interviewees confirmed that some Christians in BLGA are involved in the act of indiscriminate bush burning. The following are the reasons why Christians engage in the act of bush burning: farming, hunting, cleaning the environment, having access to firewood, and deterring undesirable animals from approaching residential areas. The interview responses showed that many Christian farmers and hunters in BLGA were unaware of the Christian environmental ethical implication of bush burning. Only few Christians knew that preserving environmental resources is a Christian ethical responsibility. Majority of the respondents believed that the awareness of Christian environmental ethical responsibility will reduce indiscriminate bush burning in BLGA. Therefore, Christian leaders should incorporate biblical teachings about environmental care into their sermons, and collaborate with environmental protection agencies to campaign against indiscriminate bush burning in various rural communities.