Class notes Christian Religious Education LEVEL 4

I am delighted to write the foreword for this book. The Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGE&I) has developed the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) textbooks based on the National Curriculum of South Sudan. The textbook was written to help learners develop the background knowledge and understanding in the subject. It is intended largely to serve as a source of knowledge and understanding of the subject concerned, but not to be considered as a summary of what learners ought to study. The National Curriculum is a competency based and learner-centered that aims to meet the educational needs and aspirations of the people of South Sudan. Its aims are manifold: (a) Good citizenship (b) successful lifelong learners, (c) creative, active and productive individuals; and (d) Environmentally responsible members of our society. This textbook was designed by subject panelists to promote the learners’attainment of the following competencies; critical and creative thinking, communication, cooperation, culture and identity. No one can write a book of this kind without support from colleagues, friends and family. Therefore, I am pleased to register my thanks to Dr Kuyok Abol Kuyok, the Undersecretary of the Ministry, who emphasized the importance of Alternative Education System (AES) and approved the development of its textbooks. I also want to record my thanks toUstaz Omot Okony Olok, the Director General for Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) and Ustaz Shadrack Chol Stephen, the Director General for Alternative Education Systems (AES) who worked tirelessly with thesubject panelists to develop the textbooks. Lastly, but not least, my greatest thanks and appreciation must go to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and UNICEF-South Sudan for without their support and partnership this textbook would not have seen light. Hon. Awut Deng Acuil, MP Minister, Ministry of General Education and Instruction Republic of South Sudan, Juba iii TABLE OF CONTENT UNIT 1: THE ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 1 Meaning of the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Origin of the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Major divisions of the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Importance of the Bible in relation to other faiths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Similarities and differences of the Holy Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Significance of the Bible to Jewish faith and its importance to Christians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 UNIT 2: PROPHETS IN THE BIBLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 17 Meaning of a prophet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Prophets found in the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Prophetic teachings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Types of prophets in the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 1. Major Prophets 2. Minor Prophets Relevance of prophets to today’s society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 The roles and importance of the prophets in Christian belief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 UNIT 3: JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Angel Gabriel’s message to Mary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Mary visits Elizabeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Conception and birth of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Presentation and dedication of baby Jesus in the temple . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Circumcision of Jesus and its importance to the Jewish religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Impacts of Jesus’ presence on the Jewish iv Teachers of the Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Jesus major work in the Jewish community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Jesus fed the hungry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 UNIT 4: BIBLICAL TEACHINGS ON THE ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 The Biblical teachings on the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Concept of environment according to other faiths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 UNIT 5: AFRICAN HERITAGE NARRATIVE TEACHINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. . . . . . 81 Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Wedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Marriage in South Sudan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 The family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Types of marriages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Origin of African Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 90 UNIT 6: THE CREED .............................................................100 The Apostles’ Creed....................................................................................101 Origin of the Apostles Creed.......................................................................104 Relationship between the Apostles Creed and Shahada.................106 Divisions of the Apostles’ Creed................................................................108 Teachings of the Apostles Creed...............................................................110 UNIT 7: THE MAJOR PROPHETS.............................................................................130 Major Prophets in the Bible........................................................................131 Roles of major prophets in relation to prophets in other religions .. .........................................................................................................................149 Importance of major prophets to the Christian faith today............151 UNIT 8: THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF CHRISTIANITY IN SOUTH SUDAN.................................................................153 v Background of the early missionaries in South Sudan......................158 Problems faced by the founding fathers in preaching the good news of Christ .......................................................................................................171 Achievements made by the founding fathers of Christianity.........172 Failures of the founding fathers in South Sudan.................................173 Adaptation of the traditional practice to Christianity (enculturation).............................................................................................174 Comparisons between work of the founding fathers and indigenous people...........................................................................................................175 UNIT 9: THE PATRIARCHS.......................................................178 Patriarchs in the Bible..............................................................................179 Life and call of patriarchs........................................................................180 How patriarchs expressed their faith to God....................................189 Importance of patriarchs to Christian beliefs....................................191 UNIT 10: AFRICAN TRADITIONAL......................................................................193 African traditional prophets...................................................................194 Roles of African traditional prophets..................................................196 Importance of African traditional prophets to the society.............196 Similarities between African traditional prophets and prophets in the Bible................................................................................................................197 Differences between prophets in the Bible and African traditional prophets........................................................................................................198