QUESTIONS ON CHRISTIANITY, aFRICAN TRADITIONAL SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT - c.r.e QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

​Identify ways in which Christians care for God’s creation today.

Answer

• Planting trees
• Avoiding pollution
• Cleaning the environment
• Keeping their bodies clean.
• Caring for the animals.
• Conserving the vegetation.
• Preserving soil erosion.
• Bringing up their children well.
• Taking balanced diet.
• Helping the needy.
• Providing medical care.
• Protecting human rights.
• Educating the public on the need to conserve the environment.

Identify five teachings on the relationship between human beings and the environment from the Genesis stories to creation.

Answer

1. Both human beings and the environment were created by God/ common origin
2. Human beings are superior to all other creatures
3. Human beings should take care of the environment/ preserve and conserve it
4. Human beings have authority over the rest of creation subdue the earth
5. Human beings should enjoy God’s creation/ the rest of creation was made for the human beings/ use for glory of God
6. All creation is very good human beings should treat the rest of creation with reverence respect.
7. Human beings and the environment ( rest of creation) are independent/over their existence to each other.
8. Human beings and the rest of God’s creation have a common destiny.

​Explain the religious significance of the environment in traditional African communities

Answer

1. The environment was created by God/it is sacred/ to be reversed.
2. Each ethnic group believed that their homeland was given to them by God/it was a gift from God.
3. In some communities, the most important oaths were taken by one taking the soil as a symbol of land/environment.
4. African communities set aside certain places as sacred/ to symbolize God’s presence among them (e.g mountains/ forests/caves/rivers /trees). these places were also used as places of worship.
5. some communities hat totemic animals/birds/heavenly bodies which were considered sacred.
6. The environment demonstrated the relationship between god and the people at given times e.g drought/flood/epidemics) showed that God was annoyed with the people/good rains/ a bumper harvest/ green vegetation showed God’s blessings.
7. People believed that it was their religious obligation to take care of the environment.
8. Used the environment to reveal / understand God’s attributes/his nature (e.g. thunder/ lightning/ rain/ clouds/earthquakes/ volacanicity/eclipses/sun moon/stars.
9. Rites of passages were connected to the environment/ circumcision blood flowed to the soil to blind the initiate to the ancestors/ birth –placenta was buried in the ground/upon death the body was buried in the ground.
10. The Africans believed that the environment was the abode of the spirits/the living dead / the ancestors.

State ways in which people in traditional african society used used the environment to demonstrate their belief in God

Answer

1. By using the land and its resources responsibly.
2. By setting aside sacred places such as mountain, sacred tree, graves, forests and shrines for the worship of God.
3. By setting aside sacred animals and items.
4. By praying while facing the sun, the moon or mountain which were regarded as symbols of God’s presence.
5. Using soil during oathing or cursing ceremonies and also when making covenants.
6. Protecting the land.
7. Sharing resources.
8. Offering the products of the land such as harvests and animals to God as a sign of thanksgiving.
9. Pouring libation on the ground to appease to God.
10. Letting blood fall on the ground during initiation, sacrifice and covenant making.
11. Offering burn sacrifices to God.

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