A Woman's Aspect on Religion
ONE WOMAN’S WISDOM ON RELIGION AND
THE ENVIRONMENT IN GHANA
Dr. Elizabeth Amoah, University of Ghana.
This topic, I realise, is so broad and complex that one faces with problems of specifically, defining religion and environment, the two basic concepts in the title of this paper and linking the two concepts together. Again, there is the problem of selecting which aspects of the two concepts to focus on in such a short presentation.
From the indigenous Akan[1] world- view, religion generally is about ‘ahoto’ an Akan word for well-being of individuals, the community and the entire universe. Other related words, which, the indigenous religion focuses on, are ‘nkwa’ which is translated as holistic and comprehensive life, and ‘asomdwee’ calmness and coolness within the ear (used to translate peace). These embody further concepts such as mercy, love, good relationship between human beings and between human beings and nature, lack of conflicts, good health and healing of individuals and community etc. That is to say that these complex concepts have physical and material dimensions and that concrete realisation of such concepts depends, to a large extent, on a healthy environment.
Religion includes a continuous life in which there is a proper balance and harmony between human members of the community and the numerous spirit powers that are believed to reside in nature and are part of the community. These spirit powers include the Creator Spirit, the numerous gods and goddesses and the ancestors who continue to be part of the community and are committed to the judicious use of nature by humanity. Consequently, indigenous Akan religion demands that members of the community use nature in a judicious and responsible way to ensure continuous, harmonious and peaceful life for all.
In the traditional Akan religion there is an inter-relationship between nature and the well- being of people and that total well-being is possible in an
THE ENVIRONMENT IN GHANA
Dr. Elizabeth Amoah, University of Ghana.
This topic, I realise, is so broad and complex that one faces with problems of specifically, defining religion and environment, the two basic concepts in the title of this paper and linking the two concepts together. Again, there is the problem of selecting which aspects of the two concepts to focus on in such a short presentation.
From the indigenous Akan[1] world- view, religion generally is about ‘ahoto’ an Akan word for well-being of individuals, the community and the entire universe. Other related words, which, the indigenous religion focuses on, are ‘nkwa’ which is translated as holistic and comprehensive life, and ‘asomdwee’ calmness and coolness within the ear (used to translate peace). These embody further concepts such as mercy, love, good relationship between human beings and between human beings and nature, lack of conflicts, good health and healing of individuals and community etc. That is to say that these complex concepts have physical and material dimensions and that concrete realisation of such concepts depends, to a large extent, on a healthy environment.
Religion includes a continuous life in which there is a proper balance and harmony between human members of the community and the numerous spirit powers that are believed to reside in nature and are part of the community. These spirit powers include the Creator Spirit, the numerous gods and goddesses and the ancestors who continue to be part of the community and are committed to the judicious use of nature by humanity. Consequently, indigenous Akan religion demands that members of the community use nature in a judicious and responsible way to ensure continuous, harmonious and peaceful life for all.
In the traditional Akan religion there is an inter-relationship between nature and the well- being of people and that total well-being is possible in an