BECE Religious and Moral Education: The nature of God
The three main religious traditions in the BECE syllabus all teach that God is the creator, and they do not describe God in the same words.
The idea
In Christianity, God is the creator, holy, loving, all powerful, all knowing and present everywhere. Christians speak of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God. Worship is through Jesus Christ, and the Bible is the scripture. In Islam, God is Allah, one, with no partner. This oneness is central. Allah is the creator, merciful and all powerful. Muslims do not picture God. The Qur'an is the scripture, and worship is set out in the five daily prayers and the other pillars.
In African traditional religion the Supreme Being is one, and communities use their own names. Akan speakers say Nyame or Onyame. Ewe speakers say Mawu. The Supreme Being is creator and sustainer, and is often approached through divinities and through the ancestors, who are honoured but are not the Supreme Being. A good answer compares the traditions on a named attribute, such as creation or oneness, instead of saying only that "they all believe in God".
What earns the marks
Name the tradition and the attribute. "God is powerful" with no tradition earns less than "In Islam, Allah is all powerful and has no partner." Do not mix the scriptures. The Bible, the Qur'an and oral tradition are not the same source. Ancestors are not the Supreme Being. Divinities are not a second creator.
Practice questions
These are practice questions in the style of the paper, with a model answer and a mark scheme. They are not a promise of what your paper will ask.
1Question 1
4 marks
State two attributes of God taught in Christianity, and two attributes of Allah taught in Islam. (4 marks)
Model answer
Christianity: God is loving, and God is the creator. Islam: Allah is one, and Allah is merciful.
Mark scheme
Two Christian attributes, such as creator, love, holiness, omnipotence or omniscience. One mark each2 marks
Two Islamic attributes, such as oneness, mercy, creator or omnipotence. One mark each. "Has a partner" is wrong and scores nothing2 marks
2Question 2
3 marks
(a) Give one name used for the Supreme Being in an African traditional religion you have studied. (1 mark)
(b) State one way that religion distinguishes the Supreme Being from the ancestors. (2 marks)
Model answer
(a) Nyame, among the Akan.
(b) The Supreme Being is the creator. Ancestors are the dead of the family who are honoured. They are not the creator.
Mark scheme
A correct name tied to a people, such as Nyame or Onyame for the Akan, or Mawu for the Ewe1 mark
The Supreme Being is creator or supreme1 mark
Ancestors are honoured forebears and are not the Supreme Being1 mark
3Question 3
2 marks
Why is it not enough, in an RME answer, to write "all religions believe in God"? (2 marks)
Model answer
The traditions use different names, scriptures and attributes. The question usually asks you to show one of those differences, not a slogan that hides them.
Mark scheme
The traditions differ in name, scripture or teaching1 mark
A full answer has to show the specific teaching the question asked for1 mark
Practise Religious and Moral Education with Kevin
More questions on this topic are inside GLearn, marked as you answer, with the reason written out. The first ones need no account.
Do African traditional religions teach one Supreme Being?+
Yes. The Supreme Being is one, named differently in different languages, for example Nyame among the Akan and Mawu among the Ewe. Divinities and ancestors are honoured as well. They are not a replacement for the Supreme Being.