ABSTRACT
The environmental crisis has been termed one of humanity”s most pressing issues due to its numerous aspects, intensity, and consequences (Gerten& Bergmann, 2012 Gottlieb, 2006 Leiserowitz, 2008). The suffering of millions of people across the world, as well as the dangers that humankind”s impact on the environment poses to the planet”s future and human civilization, has motivated intense efforts to reconcile human concerns with natural world dynamics. Evidence from research conducted by important international organizations over the years has warned of a terrible future if civilization fails to reverse the trend of environmental deterioration. Commentators (e.g., BBC World Trust, 2010) have reported that, compared to the rest of the world, people living in Sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria are worst impacted by the devastating effects of environmental change. Yet, there is a dearth of empirical knowledge about public understandings and responses to environmental change in the sub-continent. Further, despite the widely acknowledged centrality of religion to social structure in Sub-Saharan Africa (Pew Forum, 2010), little is known about the connections between religion and the environment. Much of the empirical research on links between religion and environmental change were conducted in the developed societies of North America and Western Europe. Thus, by focusing on one of the areas designated as a”hotspot” of environmental change (Boko, Niang, Nyong,& Vogol, 2007) where little research is done, this thesis seeks to contribute to the existing theoretical and empirical knowledge on the social bases of environmental problems, the role of religion in shaping human interaction with the natural environment, and to environmental policy generally.…
