ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND THE DECLINE OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE IN IGBO LAND (A.T.R IN FOCUS)

Abstract

Ecological features like trees, animals and rivers are of immense importance to traditional religious practices. Animals are used for various religious sacrifices. Trees are used as medicinal herbs: Forests preserve herbs and trees used for shrines and places of worship. The same is true of rivers, streams and water ponds. What temples, churches and mosques are to Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, bodies of water and forest are to African traditional religion. The above mentioned ecological features promote the practice of African traditional religion. African traditional religion on the other hand protects the ecology with the enactment of taboos that deter people from ecological abuses. Two important observations are notable about the relationship between religion and the ecology. One is that, ecology promotes religious practice. It is a source of divine revelation and it offers material assistance to religious practice. This is because every interaction with the divine is mediated through some material medium. The second important observation is that religion on the other hand preserves and protects the ecology. This paper therefore evaluates how the ecological environment in Igbo Land is affected by the decline of traditional religious practices.