DECOLONIZING CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENTALISM

Abstract

In Laudato Si, Pope Francis calls for an ecological conversion to protect our common home by reversing the increasingly negative impact of human activities on the planet. And in paragraph no. 146 of the same encyclical, he invites everyone to show special care toward the different indigenous communities, including their cultural traditions, and to make them principal dialogue partners in preserving and taking care of the planet. This article is about the possible directions Christian environmentalism would take if it were enriched with indigenous environmentalism through a decolonial process. Christian environmentalism and indigenous environmentalism differ mainly in their philosophy and their cultural foundations. Christian environmentalism is based on the belief that God is the creator of everything and God has entrusted it to humans. Therefore, humans have to take care of and protect the environment through responsible dominion and stewardship over all creation. And this principle is quite problematic due to its anthropocentric nature. On the other hand, indigenous environmentalism leans more towards ecocentrism, which prioritizes the interconnectedness of all creation, both living and non-living, and even seen and unseen. This article explores what Christian environmentalism looks like if it is informed by indigenous environmentalism. Christian environmentalism could take the following directions: recognizing and incorporating indigenous knowledge and practices in environmental stewardship; moving away from the traditional anthropocentric view and going towards a more ecocentric and cosmocentric perspectives; examining critically the role of Christianity during the colonial period, particularly in the extraction and destruction of ecosystems; working together with indigenous communities; and promoting cultural and ecological diversity.