• Institution: West Sulawesi Theological Seminary (STT Sulbar Mamuju); Jakarta Theological Seminary
• Archive Type: People
• Date: –
• Publisher: –
• Language: Bahasa Indonesia, English
• Available File(s): pdf.
• Keywords: ecotheology, anti-Western turn, Christian ethics, contextual theology.
• Link: –

Curated by Abel K. Aruan (August 13, 2024); Edited by Abel K. Aruan (August 15, 2024).

Theology students would easily find Robert Patannang Borrong‘s name in many Introduction sections in Christian ecotheology and environmental ethics pieces in Indonesia. Borrong is a pastor and former lecturer at Jakarta Theological Seminary and is now President of West Sulawesi Theological Seminary. Student of Ernst Conradie and Abraham van de Beek himself, he wrote well-known pieces, including the well-cited Etika Bumi Baru (New Earth Ethics), a dissertation piece titled Environmental Ethics and Ecological Theology from an “Indonesian” perspective, in addition to multiple related articles and his translation of Celia Deane-Drummond’s Handbook in Theology and Ecology. He is also influenced by Indonesian contextual theologians such as P. D. Latuihamallo, J. B. Banawiratma, Fredy Buntaran, and others. It is perhaps no exaggeration to say that the ecotheological investigations in Indonesia in the last twenty-five years have been influenced by Borrong’s work.

Although his works seem to touch on many issues, the posture of his scholarship can be represented in two main standpoints. First, when establishing a “rational basis” upon which environmental ethical efforts must rest, he sticks to emphasizing the idea that God is the sole owner of the universe “as a whole”–an idea that many like Michael Northcott call theocentrism, while Borrong himself prefers to call it “theocentric-holistic theology” (Borrong 2005, 129). Second, he insists on reconsidering the unquestioned proposal or issue posted by Western thought. For example, against many international policymakers who are mostly concerned with climate change, Borrong contends that “[t]he problems facing Indonesia in its development program are not only pollution but also the problem of exploitation of natural resources, especially forest loss” (Borrong 2005, 1). Another example is his attempt to critique, although unsatisfactorily, the available typologies for ecotheology already proposed by many European scholars. He draws instead from Stephen Bede Sharper’s work, delineating categories such as apologetic, constructive, and listening (mendengarkan).

Although not explicitly, Borrong indicates how coloniality of knowledge has been pervasive in justifying such exploitation. He asserts, “The attitude of human beings whose view of nature is limited to its economic value became dominant with the influence of Western philosophy, particularly the modern philosophies of rationalism and empiricism, which began to develop in Europe in the 13th century, and became influential after the Middle Ages” (Borrong 2005, 63). Thus, it is crucial to seek more “authentic Christian heritage” (p. 103).

Many Indonesian scholars, especially in the last five years, have followed Borrong’s footsteps. Marthinus Ngabalin, for instance, addresses the situation where most writings and preachings in Indonesian churches ignored the presence of entire creatures beyond humankind. He borrows Borrong’s interpretation of John 3:10, which suggests that God’s saving actions are not limited to humans and, because of this, no human can rightfully claim that God’s love is only for them, their group, or even their species (Ngabalin 2020, 118-34). Moreover, Borrong’s influence went beyond the Christian circle. For example, Muslim scholars cite Borrong’s Etika Bumi Baru in appealing to ethics and morality in the rethinking of the economy in order to achieve a more sustainable ecosystem (Azizah & Hariyanto 2021, 249).

Life and Career (source: Ngelow & Mandalika 2022 and others).

• Born in Sandana, Mamuju, West Sulawesi, December 24, 1954.
• [Year?], Ordained as Pastor for Mamasa Toraja Church (Gereja Toraja Mamasa, GTM).
• 1993-1996, Doctor of Theology, SEAGST Jakarta
• 2003-2005, Doctor of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• 1984-1987, Professor of Theology at INTIM School of Theology, Makassar, and leading Pastor at GTM Moria, Makassar.
• 1987-1992, Secretary of Development and Education, Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI).
• 1996-2009, Professor of Christian Ethics, Jakarta Theological Seminary (STFT Jakarta)
• 1999-2003, 2003-2007, President, Jakarta Theological Seminary.
• 2019-now, President, West Sulawesi Theological Seminary (STT Sulbar Mamuju)

Picture(s)

Sources

• Borrong, Robert P. Etika Bumi Baru: Akses Etika dalam Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup. Cet. 1. Jakarta: BPK Gunung Mulia, 1999.
• ———. “Etika Lingkungan Hidup Dari Perspektif Teologi Kristen.” Jurnal Pelita Zaman 13, no. 1 (1998): 8–18.
• ———. Environmental Ethics and Ecological Theology: Ethics as Integral Part of Ecosphere from an Indonesian Perspective. Dissertation Document. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit, 2005. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/environmental-ethics-and-ecological-theology-ethics-as-integral-p.
• ———. “Theologia Viatorum: Upaya Memaknai Teologi Kontekstual sebagai proses Berteologi.” In Ziarah Beragam Rasa: Buku Kenangan 80 Tahun STT Jakarta. Edited by Jan S. Aritonang. Jakarta: UPI-STTJ, 2014.
• ———. “Etika Animalitas.” Gema Teologika: Jurnal Teologi Kontekstual dan Filsafat Keilahian 4, no. 2 (October 16, 2019): 229. https://doi.org/10.21460/gema.2019.42.444.
• ———. “Kronik Ekoteologi: Berteologi dalam Konteks Krisis Lingkungan.” Stulos 17, no. 2 (July 2019): 183–212.
• ———. “Kuliah Umum Tokoh 8 – Robert P. Borrong.” Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Theologi Jakarta. September 11, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzun9w7GFUE.
• ———. “Batu Pare: Norma Mengolah Lahan Pertanian Masyarakat Kalumpang.” In Teologi Tanah: Perspektif Kristen terhadap Ketidakadilan Sosio-ekologis di Indonesia. Festschrift to John Campbell-Nelson. Edited by Zakaria J. Ngelow & Lady Paula R. Mandalika. Jakarta: BPK Gunung Mulya, 2022.
• Ngabalin, Marthinus. “Ekoteologi : Tinjauan Teologi Terhadap Keselamatan Lingkungan Hidup.” CARAKA: Jurnal Teologi Biblika dan Praktika 1, no. 2 (September 28, 2020): 118–34. https://doi.org/10.46348/car.v1i2.22.
• Azizah, Mabarroh & Haryanto. “Implementasi Etika Bisnis Islam terhadap Konsep Green Economics,” Supremasi Hukum 10, no. 21 (2021): 237-252. https://doi.org/10.14421/sh.v10i2.2392.