Reading Eco-Theology Through the Mopoa Huta Ritual:Local Wisdom, Environmental Ethics and Spiritual Ecology in Gorontalo

Abstract

Environmental degradation and the decline of local ecological wisdom have urged scholars to explore alternative frameworks that reconnect humans with nature. One such framework is eco-theology, which interprets human–environment relations as part of humanity’s spiritual responsibility before God. This study examines the ritual of Mopoa Huta- a traditional agrarian practice in Molamahu, Gorontalo- as a cultural expression that integrates mysticism, environmental ethics, and religious meaning. The study aims to (1) analyze how Mopoa Huta embodies ecological values within its ritual structure, (2) explore how the ritual reflects the community’s theological understanding of nature, and (3) explain its contemporary relevance for environmental ethics and eco-theological discourse. Using an ethnographic approach supported by functional and eco-theological analysis, this research draws on field observations, interviews with ritual practitioners, and textual interpretation of local narratives. The findings show that Mopoa Huta functions as a form of traditional eco-spiritual governance, in which the wombuwa serves as a cultural-ecological steward who regulates planting seasons, mediates human–spirit relations, and maintains environmental balance. Ritual elements such as offerings, taboos on cutting certain trees, and collective dances express a worldview where humans, spirits, and nature form an interconnected moral community. The study concludes that Mopoa Huta provides an alternative eco-theological model rooted in local wisdom that emphasizes harmony, restraint, and gratitude toward the natural world. Its values remain relevant today for reframing environmental ethics, especially in responding to climate change and ecological disruption.