At the dawn of the twenty-first century, in what some have termed the 'postmodern age', and amidst scientific and technological advancements and interconnected globalized economies, religion appears to play an even more significant and public role in rural societies in Africa than in the past. Due to this, some interesting questions have risen, such as the following: To what extent do religious beliefs shape the economy and socio-demography of rural people and, conversely, to what extent do economic, socio-demographic interests influence the religious beliefs and practices? Do religions in rural Africa contribute to environmental conservation and, if so, how? What are the religious perceptions and beliefs of local people with respect to the natural environment? Consequently the purpose was to examine the association between core religiosity variables and perceptions about the natural environment and the use of natural resources in rural Kilimanjaro, with socio-demographic variables being controlled. There were 360 households who took part in the survey. It was hypothesized that a) there is a positive correlation between religious phenomenology and socio- demographic outcomes and b) there is positive association between religiosity and perceptions about- nature and the use of natural resources. Households were required to complete a standard questionnaire. Core variables for the analysis of religiosity and socio-demography, and religiosity and the natural environment, were selected through the use of factor analysis and nominal group techniques. The majority of the respondents belonged to the Roman Catholic denomination (N=282; 78.33%). Therefore, the results and analysis of religion, socio-demography and the natural environment were based on households who reported that they adhered to the Roman Catholic faith. The results show that, fundamentally, as far as households are concerned, the associations between religiosity (belief in God, reading religious texts and church attendance) and the natural environment phenomenology, controlling for socio-demographic factors, are generally weak and variable. It appears that the ordinary adherent to the Catholic faith in rural Kilimanjaro continues with his/her routine life, without serious environmental concerns, unless there is some good socio-economic reason for him/her to interact with the environment. Perhaps what relates to environmental concerns, or a lack thereof, of rural households is not religiosity as such but their intimacy with the natural environment in the pursuit of their daily livelihoods. It seems also that most rural households, particularly women and primary school leavers, attend organized religious institution services weekly and read religious texts almost daily, making this setting in rural Kilimanjaro a prime and ideal venue for reaching and recruiting potential participants for socio-economic and environmental programmes. Further research and the implications are discussed. Both theoretical and policy implications are also discussed.

No abstract available / OLD TESTAMENT & ANCIENT NE / MA (BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY)

No abstract available / OLD TESTAMENT and ANCIENT NE / MA (BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY)

Depuis 2002, la « décroissance » s’est imposée dans le débat sur l’écologie, l’économie et notre futur. Le présent travail interroge la théologie protestante à travers l’une des principales plumes de cette pensée hétérodoxe : Serge Latouche. Cet économiste français athée effectue une critique culturaliste de la société de croissance. Il en instruit un triple procès et appelle à la décolonisation créatrice de notre imaginaire partagé, afin de cheminer vers des sociétés d’abondance frugale autonomes, conviviales et heureuses. Cette position mène la théologie à s’interroger en premier lieu sur le croître. Au vu des données bibliques, il est constaté que l’imagerie chrétienne de la croissance augmente et contredit l’imaginaire dominant croissanciste. Partant, deux contributions sont apportées à une théologie du croître : l’une sur l’enrichissement commandé au disciple et à l’Église, où cette croissance est subvertie, l’autre sur la pousse des plantes et les proliférations d’animaux, où ces croissances sont réhabilitées. / Since 2002, “degrowth” has made its way into the debate on ecology, economics, and our future. The present work questions Protestant theology through one of the main writers of this heterodox thinking: Serge Latouche. This French atheist economist makes a culturalist critique of the society of growth. He puts it on a threefold trial and calls for the creative decolonization of our shared imaginary, so as to move towards autonomous, convivial, and happy societies of frugal abundance. This position first of all leads theology to question growth. Based on biblical data, it is noticed that the Christian imaginary of growth enriches and contradicts the dominant growthist imaginary. Hence, two contributions to a theology of growth are provided: one about the command to get rich addressed to the disciple and to the church, where this kind of growth is subverted, another about plant growth and animal proliferation, where these kinds of growth are restored to favor.

Currently the world is in the midst of a major ecological crisis, of which climate change is a key element. It is contended that this ecological destruction is largely a result of the underlying values controlling ethics and the controlling instinct of the modern worldview, which has been dominant for the past three centuries. The most recent and still emerging worldview, postmodernism, is examined and contrasted as a rebuttal to the modernistic tendencies and ethics. Utilising Ecclesiastes 1: 1-18, the ethical themes that the author of Ecclesiastes used are explored and paralleled to similar views found in postmodernism. Together, these biblical and postmodern thoughts illustrate how a strong environmental ethic can be formed that counters the modernistic worldview of controlling creation. The outcome of this research is to integrate aspects of postmodern thought with the book of Ecclesiastes to present a theological ethical basis from which a Christian can view and act towards creation. / Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics / M.Th. (Theological Ethics)

Currently the world is in the midst of a major ecological crisis, of which climate change is a key element. It is contended that this ecological destruction is largely a result of the underlying values controlling ethics and the controlling instinct of the modern worldview, which has been dominant for the past three centuries. The most recent and still emerging worldview, postmodernism, is examined and contrasted as a rebuttal to the modernistic tendencies and ethics. Utilising Ecclesiastes 1: 1-18, the ethical themes that the author of Ecclesiastes used are explored and paralleled to similar views found in postmodernism. Together, these biblical and postmodern thoughts illustrate how a strong environmental ethic can be formed that counters the modernistic worldview of controlling creation. The outcome of this research is to integrate aspects of postmodern thought with the book of Ecclesiastes to present a theological ethical basis from which a Christian can view and act towards creation. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Theological Ethics)