PUBLIC THEOLOGY, DECOLONIZATION AND RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN INCLUSIVE ECOLOGICAL ETHICS

Abstract

This article explores the intersections between public theology, decolonization, and religious pluralism in the construction of inclusive ecological ethics. Starting from a critique of the colonial matrices that have shaped theological and environmental thought, this perspective proposes valuing different religious traditions, as well as Indigenous and Afro-descendant knowledge systems, to foster a spirituality committed to socio-environmental justice. The approach highlights the role of these three areas in addressing contemporary ecological crises, emphasizing the need for collective engagement toward a sustainable future. It examines how public theology can contribute to the decolonization of predatory environmental perspectives by recognizing the richness of Indigenous knowledge and marginalized spiritualities, and how religious pluralism offers complementary visions of ecological responsibility, promoting joint efforts in the preservation of the planet. Through the articulation of these three dimensions, the text argues that the construction of inclusive ecological ethics requires spiritual conversion, as well as epistemological and political transformation, capable of reconnecting faith, territory, and socio-environmental justice.