Theological Principles for Ecological Sustainability and Human Flourishing

Abstract

No human society is free from environmental crises. Ghana is a West-African country that is currently experiencing different environmental crises including unmanaged air and water pollution, land degradation, and deforestation, among others. Many Ghanaians engage in all sorts of environmentally-harmful activities in their attempt to make their lives flourish. This situation underscores a misconception of the relationship between the state of the condition of the human environment and human flourishing. This research was, therefore, conducted to present a biblical view of human flourishing and demonstrate that true human flourishing cannot be achieved in an environment that cannot sustain human life. Using the literature-based research methodology, the paper conducted a biblical/theological survey of selected biblical texts and examined selected environmental challenges facing contemporary Ghana. The main thesis of the paper is that activities geared toward human flourishing should enhance environmental wellbeing and not be a threat to it.