PANTHEISM AND ECO-THEOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY: REIMAGINING THE DIVINE-NATURE RELATIONSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 21ST-CENTURY ECOLOGICAL CRISIS

Abstract

The accelerating ecological crisis of the twenty-first century has intensified theological and philosophical reflections on humanity’s relationship with the natural world. This study examines the doctrine of pantheism as a conceptual resource for advancing eco-theological responsibility in the face of contemporary environmental degradation. Employing a qualitative and interdisciplinary approach that engages philosophical theology, environmental ethics, and eco-theological scholarship, the paper critically explores how pantheistic thought understood as the identification of the divine with the cosmos reconfigures the moral and spiritual status of nature. The study argues that the pantheistic sacralization of the universe offers a compelling ethical framework that encourages reverence for nature and strengthens moral commitment to ecological preservation. By reframing the natural world as intrinsically divine rather than merely instrumental, pantheism provides a theological basis for deeper ecological responsibility. The paper concludes that integrating pantheistic insights into eco-theological discourse can enrich contemporary environmental ethics and inspire transformative attitudes toward sustainable ecological stewardship.