Prof. Ikechukwu Anthony Kanu, OSA, President of the Association for the Promotion of African Studies, has presented a paper at the Harvard University Inaugural Conference.

Kanu, a Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Tansian University, Umunya, spoke on African Eco-spirituality as an Indigenous Response to Modern Ecological Crisis.

In his paper, the renowned scholar, who is also a Catholic Priest, stressed the need for religious tolerance and values that represent true Christianity and social security.

Prof. Kanu is the editor of three books that are fundamental to ecological studies in Africa. The books are: African Eco-Philosophy: Cosmology, Consciousness and the Environment; African Ecological Spirituality: Perspectives on Anthroposophy and Environmentalism; and African Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Systems: Religion, Philosophy and the Environment; African Eco-Theology: Meaning, Forms and Expressions.

The inaugural conference on “Ecological Spiritualities” by the prestigious Harvard University-Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, began on April 26th and came to a conclusion yesterday, April 30th. Highlights of the conference included presentations and workshops exploring evolution of earth-based spiritual traditions and highlighting innovative spiritual practices that are emerging in response to the painful realities of climate change, mass extinction, biodiversity loss, and the disruption of local and global ecosystems.

Speakers at the conference were professors from a variety of theoretical, methodological and interdisciplinary approaches, religious traditions, and geographical regions. This helped to create space for open discussions and a fruitful opportunity for deep learning among scholars and others who care about the intersection of spirituality and ecology.