The Groaning Earth and the Greening of Neo-Pentecostalism in the 21st Century Ghana

Authors

  • Ben-Willie Kwaku Golo Department for the Study of Religions University of Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/ptcs.v13i2.197

Keywords:

Ghana’s neo-Pentecostals, neo-Pentecostal environmentalism, environmental challenges, groaning earth, mission of reconciliation, environmental mission

Abstract

From the angle of theology of mission it is imperative for the Christian faith to respond to the complex environmental challenges facing Africa. In this article, I explore the attitudes and responses of Ghana’s Charismatic churches, as a case study of neo-Pentecostal responses to Ghana’s environmental challenges. I further explore some theological and ethical imperatives that require neo-Pentecostals to integrate environmental protection into their missions agenda in today’s Ghana, in order to become environmentally friendly, as their “mission of reconciliation” requires of them. I argue that, as required by their theology of mission, Ghana’s neo-Pentecostals must reconcile with the earth and “be of the earth” through a re-interpretation of their “mission of reconciliation”. Source data for this work are both secondary and primary, utilizing both participant observation and analysis of interviews with selected neo-Pentecostal members and leaders in Ghana.

Author Biography

  • Ben-Willie Kwaku Golo, Department for the Study of Religions University of Ghana

    Ben-Willie Kwaku Golo is a lecturer in the Department for the Study of Religion, University of Ghana, Legon where he teaches in the areas of theological studies, religion and society, and ecological and applied ethics. His research areas include religion and ecology; ecological and social ethics; and contemporary developments in African Christian theological thought, especially in relation to ecology

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Published

2014-07-11

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Golo, B.-W. (2014). The Groaning Earth and the Greening of Neo-Pentecostalism in the 21st Century Ghana. PentecoStudies, 13(2), 197-216. https://doi.org/10.1558/ptcs.v13i2.197