In search of indigenous knoelwdge systems for ecological justice : a gender ecological reading of genesis 1-3 in the context of the people of Zambia.

Doctor of Philosophy in Gender and Religion. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2014.The emergence of climate change and the current ecological crisis in recent decades has prompted research on the role of religious and cultural traditions as well as sacred texts in either supporting or discouraging human responsibility to the natural world. With regard to the use of sacred texts such as the bible, numerous techniques have been employed in the task of interpretation, moving away more recently from attempts to identify the text’s original community and its functions therein, towards an examination of its literary, rhetorical structure. This study sought to explore what insights an indigenous gendered ecological reading of Genesis 1-3 can provide in the context of the current ecological crisis. This objective was achieved in the following steps. First, the study examined indigenous Tonga culture and the biblical myths of origin. Critical examination of both worldviews uncovered their complementary emphases on human responsibility toward ecological wellbeing. Further, both worldviews uncovered leadership roles of women in social and religious rituals which promoted ecological wellbeing. Second, the interconnectedness of the elements of the universe in African cosmologies was explored through the Tonga people of Zambia. It was found that in Africa an interdependent, participatory relationship exists between humans, nonhuman forms of life and the creator God. In discussing Tonga cultural rituals and the Leza cult, the study explored gendered and ecological values of African indigenous culture. Such rituals illustrated the involvement of women, ancestors and the creator God in maintaining ecological wellbeing. Third, a gendered ecological reading of Genesis 1-3 was offered. Across Genesis 1-3, it was found that the myths emphasise the value of life and the interrelatedness of human beings and nonhuman forms of life. Further, the myths exhibited the belief that the equality of man and woman is from God. The study found that a complementary reading of the biblical myths of origin that supports the equality of man and woman and the interrelatedness of humans and nonhuman forms of life can foster human responsibility to the Earth. Fourth the study showed that such gendered and ecological cultural concepts in indigenous African culture should be retrieved to advocate for ecological emancipation. Fifth, the study recognised that over many centuries the motifs in the biblical myths of origin have been altered to promote the patriarchal interests of the writers and editors. An indigenous African gendered ecological interpretive framework, woven together with gendered and ecological values in African culture was presented as a means to counter the dominant patriarchal interpretations of the text. The study concluded that a biblical interpretive model informed by ecological and gendered values in African culture can promote human responsibility to the natural world and help alleviate the impact of the current ecological crisis