Ecotheology Workshop

KH Masduki Baidlowi, Head of the MUI Information and Communication Division, explained that the concept of ecotheology is the understanding that humans and the natural environment possess equal rights. He highlighted various forms of environmental destruction in Indonesia, driven by human greed, that have led to global warming, deforestation, and even overfishing in the oceans. When spiritual values are abandoned, he warned, people become greedy, and this creates immense difficulty in facing environmental crises unless they understand the principles of ecotheology.

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During the Ecotheology Workshop for Madrasah Teachers in South Tangerang, he emphasized that planting trees is not a relationship between a mere subject and object; rather, both humans and plants are subjects with their own rights. Plants, he said, possess a soul granted by God for the sake of harmony, which maintains ecological balance. He urged teachers to grasp this understanding so they can pass it on to their students, whether in caring for the environment or in treating animals with compassion. If this generation is taught ecotheological awareness early, he believes Indonesia’s future environmental condition will improve as mindsets shift.

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Masduki also stressed that in today’s era of AI and digital communication, ecotheology should not remain a mere theory. Teachers should translate it into digital content across multiple platforms, even simple messages such as “humans and nature have equal rights.” He hopes this training will encourage teachers to create engaging, viral content about environmental care. Supporting the initiative, Dr. Thobib Al-Asyhar from the Ministry of Religious Affairs noted that ecotheology is part of a national program aimed at building public awareness, from planting trees to changing the mindset of throwing garbage in its proper place. Loving the environment, he added, will bring the environment to “love us back,” since everything on earth possesses a soul as a manifestation of the Divine.

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Speakers:

• KH. Masduki Baidlowi
  Head of the MUI Division of Information and Communication
  Topic: “Ecotheology in the Perspective of Communication in the Disruption Era: Strategies and Challenges”

• Dr. Thobib Al-Asyhar, S.Ag., M.Si.
  Head of the Public Relations and Public Communication Bureau, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
  Topic: “The Role of Teachers in Instilling the Ecotheology Paradigm from an Early Age”

• Dr. Muchlis M. Hanafi, M.A.
  Expert Council Member at the Center for Qur’anic Studies (PSQ)
  Topic: “The Qur’anic Foundations of Ecotheology: Exploring Environment-Friendly Interpretations”

• Dr. Hayu Prabowo
  Chairman of the MUI Institute for Environmental Preservation
  Topic: “Theory and Practice of Managing Waqf Forests: Practical Tips for Starting Greening Initiatives”