Development ideas and programmes in Africa generally overlook the role of religion. But contrary ... more Development ideas and programmes in Africa generally overlook the role of religion. But contrary to this attitude, religion, in this context, Christianity, can be a catalyst to the development of Africa in the twenty-first century. The theological discourse of the twentieth century propelled progressive socio-economic and political developments. Thus, the paper examines the liberation theologies of the twentieth century and contextualizes the lessons learned from them for development in Africa and as an exemplar exercise in public theology. This is done using the historical method of research within the ambit of the theory of theological reflection. The liberation theologies affirmed the biblical ethos of liberation for all people under God with a focus on poverty, racism, and gender inequality. They became the platform for galvanizing efforts towards humanization and the betterment of people’s lives. Their propositions can be integrated into thinking and quest for development in Af...
The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cover a broad range of social and eco... more The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cover a broad range of social and economic issues. Specifically, the Goal 3, relating to health, is targeted at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all people. The necessity of health and a healthy lifestyle is very germane to Africa, considering the social and economic encumbrances and the failure of governance in Africa. Different perspectives have been revealed in academic literatures and within the framework of health professionals in tackling health issues in the world. There are those who clamour for recreation, sports, and exercise as a means to achieving health. Also, there is the biomedical perspective, which focuses on providing a clear understanding of the causes of diseases and their physiological consequences, leading to more effective treatment and prevention. And there is the contemporary holistic view of health, which sees health as having spiritual, psychological and physical dimensions of a...
Sustainable environmental development can only take place in the context of a peaceful, secured a... more Sustainable environmental development can only take place in the context of a peaceful, secured and beneficial environment. The increasing concern about environmental issues in Niger Delta region of Nigeria provides the basis to biblically construct sustainable pro-environmental behaviour. Therefore, the paper contextually interrogates Pauline ecology, and synthesizes it with the environmental issues of the Niger Delta using the personal agency variable of the social cognitive theory of pro-environmental behaviour. Pauline ecology affirms that the redemptive act of God in Jesus Christ, which is the restorative re-creation of the entire universe, is integral to ecological balance. In essence, human and non-human components of the environment are headed for transformation, and not for destruction. Therefore, Pauline ecology impinges responsibility on the human components of the environment to take conscious action to foster sustainable, climate-healthy and nature-changing activities i...
Development ideas and programmes in Africa generally overlook the role of religion. But contrary ... more Development ideas and programmes in Africa generally overlook the role of religion. But contrary to this attitude, religion, in this context, Christianity, can be a catalyst to the development of Africa in the twenty-first century. The theological discourse of the twentieth century propelled progressive socio-economic and political developments. Thus, the paper examines the liberation theologies of the twentieth century and contextualizes the lessons learned from them for development in Africa and as an exemplar exercise in public theology. This is done using the historical method of research within the ambit of the theory of theological reflection. The liberation theologies affirmed the biblical ethos of liberation for all people under God with a focus on poverty, racism, and gender inequality. They became the platform for galvanizing efforts towards humanization and the betterment of people’s lives. Their propositions can be integrated into thinking and quest for development in Af...
The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cover a broad range of social and eco... more The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cover a broad range of social and economic issues. Specifically, the Goal 3, relating to health, is targeted at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all people. The necessity of health and a healthy lifestyle is very germane to Africa, considering the social and economic encumbrances and the failure of governance in Africa. Different perspectives have been revealed in academic literatures and within the framework of health professionals in tackling health issues in the world. There are those who clamour for recreation, sports, and exercise as a means to achieving health. Also, there is the biomedical perspective, which focuses on providing a clear understanding of the causes of diseases and their physiological consequences, leading to more effective treatment and prevention. And there is the contemporary holistic view of health, which sees health as having spiritual, psychological and physical dimensions of a...
Sustainable environmental development can only take place in the context of a peaceful, secured a... more Sustainable environmental development can only take place in the context of a peaceful, secured and beneficial environment. The increasing concern about environmental issues in Niger Delta region of Nigeria provides the basis to biblically construct sustainable pro-environmental behaviour. Therefore, the paper contextually interrogates Pauline ecology, and synthesizes it with the environmental issues of the Niger Delta using the personal agency variable of the social cognitive theory of pro-environmental behaviour. Pauline ecology affirms that the redemptive act of God in Jesus Christ, which is the restorative re-creation of the entire universe, is integral to ecological balance. In essence, human and non-human components of the environment are headed for transformation, and not for destruction. Therefore, Pauline ecology impinges responsibility on the human components of the environment to take conscious action to foster sustainable, climate-healthy and nature-changing activities i...
Uploads
Papers by Samuel Okanlawon