RELIGIOUS AND MORAL EDUCATION ~

IN SCOPE .

FOR

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

1-3 K. D . TWuV\11.CisL

C. A~&i~e

TABLE OF CONTENT

JHS 1 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS AND MORAL EDUCATION 2-13 ~ Religion ~ Types of religion ~ The main religious groups in Ghana ~ Christianity, the Holy Bible and Christian beliefs ~ Islam, the Holy Qur'an, Muslim beliefs and the Islamic Calendar ~ African Traditional Religion ~ Characteristics of Religion ~ Reasons for studying religion

SECTION 1: GOD, HIS CREATION AND HIS ATTRIBUTES

UNIT 1: God and Creation 14-- 24 ~ Introduction ~ Christian story or concept of creation ~ Useful lessons to learn from the Christian story of creation ~ Islamic story of creation ~ The essence of creation to humankind in Islam ~ The traditional story of creation ~ The purpose and usefulness of God's creation ~ The natural environment ~ Why it is important to maintain the environment ~ Human activities that are destroying the environment (God's Creation) ~ Ways for protecting the environment

UNIT 2: ATTRIBUTES OF GOD ~ The nature of God ~ Attributes of God by Christians ~ Christian moral implications of the attributes of God ~ Attributes of Allah by Muslims ~ Attributes of God by the Traditionalist ~ Application of the attributes of God in our daily lives

SECTION 2: THE FAMILY, RELIGIOUS HOME AND OBEDIENCE

UNIT 1: FAMILY SYSTEMS ~ The family ~ The nuclear family system, advantages and disadvantages ~ The extended family system, advantages and disadvantages ~ The role of individual family members ~ The importance of the family system in society ~ Traditional system of inheritance in Ghana ~ Matrilineal system of inheritance, advantages and disadvantages

v

25-32

33...:.45

);;- Patrilineal system of inheritance, advantages and disadvantages );;- Intestate Succession Law (PNDC Law 111) . );;- Ways to promote good relationship among fan:iily members );;- Importance of healthy relationship among family members );;- Self examination

UNIT 2: OBEDIENCE );;- Reasons for obeying God );;- Reasons for obeying our parents );;- Reasons for obeying our leaders and people in authority );;- Christian religious rules on obedience );;- Muslims religious rules on obedience );;- Traditional religious rules on obedience );;- Rules and regulations at school, home and in the community );;- Reasons why rules and regulations are important );;- Importance of obedience to teachers and parents );;- Disobedience );;- Reasons why children are punished for being disobedient );;- Effects of disobedience

49 - 56

UNIT 3: RELIGIOUS HOME AND NEIGHBOURHOOD 57 - 60 );;- Life patterns of a Christian home );;- Life patterns of an Islamic home );;- Life patterns of a Traditional home );;- How people belonging to different religious groups can co-exist peacefully );;- Reasons why people from different religions must interact or tolerate each other

SECTION 3: RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND THEIR MORAL IMPLICATIONS

UNIT 1: RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN THE THREE MAIN RELIGIONS 61 - 85 );;- Religious practices - Christianity );;- Christian worship );;- The purpose of Christian worship );;- Revival, Baptism, Evangelism, Bible studies, Benevolence, and Confirmation );;- · Christian prayer, how to pray, why Christians pray );;- Importance of prayer );;- Islamic practices );;- The five pillars of Islam );;- Shahadah, and its purpose );;- Salat, how it is performed, moral values of Salat );;- Zakat, principles that guide Zakat, the purpose of Zakat );;- Saum or Sawm, the significance of Sawm, Ramadan and its importance );;- Hajj, common Islamic terms related to Hajj, rituals at the Hajj,

moral significance of the Hajj );;- African Traditional Religion Practices

Traditional Worship

vi

The purpose of traditional worship Traditional prayer (pouring of libation) Types of traditional prayer The process involved in pouring libation Importance of libation Traditional offering and sacrifices Types of sacrifices in the Ghanaian traditional society Importance of sacrifices to the worshipper Drumming, singing and dancing Invoking of spirits and possession

UNIT 2: TIMES AND MODE OF WORSHIP ~ Time of Christian worship ~ Mode of Christian worship ~ Christian prayers ~ Mode of Christian prayers ~ Importance of prayer ~ Time of Islamic worship ~ Ablution, how it is performed, significance of ablution ~ Tayammum and the conditions for performing it ~ Modes of Islamic worship ~ . Types of Islamic prayer ~ The purpose of Salat (prayer) ~ Times and mode of worship for the African Traditional Religion ~ Types of traditional prayers ~ Mode of traditional prayers ~ Stages involved in the pouring of libation ~ Importance of libation ~ Sacrifices ~ Moral significance of prayer in the three main religions

UNIT 3: RELIGIOUS SONGS AND THEIR MORAL IMPLICATIONS ~ Religious songs ~ Features of religious songs ~ Non-religious songs ~ Types of non-religious songs ~ Differences between religious songs and non-religious songs ~ Moral values of religious songs ~ Traditional songs ~ Moral importance of traditional songs

vii

86-97

98-102

SECTION 4: MANNERS

UNIT 1: MANNERS: GREETING AND DRESSING ~ Manners ~ Good manners, examples of good manners ~ Benefits of showing good manners ~ Bad manners, examples of bad manners ~ Effects of showing bad manners ~ Greetings ~ Factors to be considered before greeting someone ~ Forms of greetings ~ How Ghanaians greet each other ~ Poor or bad ways of greetings ~ The importance of greetings ~ Proper ways of introducing people ~ Group introduction ~ Introduction in diplomatic circles ~ How to respond to an introduction ~ Decent dressing ~ What it means to be decently dressed ~ Importance of decent dressing

UNIT 2: COMPORTMENT AND COURTESY ~ Comportment ~ Behaviours that show comportment ~ Situations where comportment must be shown . ~ Courtesy ~ Behaviours that show courtesy ~ Situations where courtesy is needed ~ Courtesies at public places ~ Good eating habits that show courtesy ~ Table manners ~ Importance of observing good table manners ~ The need for comportment and courtesy ~ Comportment, courtesy and good character

viii

103-110

111 -118

JHS 2

SECTION 1: WORK, MONEY, TIME AND LEISURE

UNIT 1: WORK ~ Work ~ Types of work at home, school and in the community ~ Work ethics, positive and negative work ethics ~ How to develop the spirit of hard work ~ Importance of work as a normal human activity

UNIT 2: MONEY ~ Money ~ Functions of money ~ Wise use of money ~ Proper ways of handling money ~ Reasons why children should not be allowed to handle money ~ Honest ways of earning money ~ Importance of contributing money to the church ~ Stealing, cheating and bribery and corruption ~ Causes and effects of bribery and corruption ~ Ways to prevent bribery and corruption

UNIT 3: TIME AND LEISURE · ~ Time ~ Time management ~ How to use time profitably at school and at home ~ Leisure and idleness

119-127

128 -147

148-153

UNIT 4: RESPONSIBILITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES 154 - 158 ~ Responsibility ~ Types of responsibilities ~ Religious and Moral Responsibilities of children ~ Physical responsibilities of children at home ~ Physical responsibilities of children at school ~ Parental responsibilities towards their children ~ Problems that may arise when parents and children do not accept and perform

their duties ~ Reasons why parents and children should be responsible

UNIT 5: FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES ~ Rights and Human Rights ~ Some examples of rights of a person ~ Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms in Ghana ~ Proper ways of demanding one's human rights and freedoms ~ Privileges

ix

159-168

);;>- Some privileges children enjoy at school and at home );;>- How privileges go with Responsibilities

SECTION 2: RELIGIOUS PERSONALITIES

UNIT 1: PATRIARCHS, PROPHETS/CALIPHS AND 169 - 205 TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

);;>- Distinction between Patriarchs, Prophets/Caliphs and Traditional Religious Leaders

);;>- The mission and exemplary lives of the Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.

);;>- Useful lessons to learn from the lives of the Patriarchs );;>- The Mission and exemplary lives of the Prophets - Elijah,

Elisha, Daniel and Noah );;>- Useful lessons to learn from the lives of the Prophets Elijah,

Elisha, Daniel and Noah );;>- The mission and exemplary life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad );;>- • Useful lessons to learn from the life of Prophet Muhammad );;>- The mission and exemplary lives of the Caliphs );;>- Contributions of the Caliphs to Islam );;>- Useful lessons to learn from the lives of the Caliphs );;>- The mission and exemplary lives of the traditional religious leaders

Okomfo Anokye Tweneboa Kodua Togbe Tsali Egya Ahor

);;>- Useful lessons to be learnt from the lives of the traditional religious leaders

UNIT 2: MORAL TEACHINGS OF THE THREE MAIN RELIGIOUS LEADERS

);;>- Moral teachings of Jesus Christ Parables Sermon on the Mount The Great Commandments The Golden Rule

);;>- Moral lessons to be learnt from the teachings of Jesus Christ );;>- Moral teachings of Prophet Muhammad );;>- Moral teachings of the traditional religious leaders

206-216

);;>- Moral lessons from the teachings of the three religious leaders );;>- How we can apply these moral values or teachings from the religious leaders to

our lives

x

SECTION 3: RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS UNIT 1: RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS ~ Religious festivals in Ghana ~ Christian religious festivals ~ Islamic festivals ~ Traditional festivals ~ Significance of religious festivals ~ The need for an individual to participate in religious festivals ~ Application of moral values learnt from religious festivals

SECTION 4: RITES OF PASSAGE

217 -234

UNIT 1: NAMING CEREMONY 235 - 245 ~ Rites of passage ~ Stages of life cycle ~ Outdooring and naming ceremony ~ Factors to be considered in choosing a name for a child ~ Outdooring and naming ceremony among the Akans, Gas, Ewes and

Dagombas ~ Ceremonies Akans, Gas and Ewes perform for twins . ~ Changes that have occurred in the Performance of Naming Ceremonies today

or effects of modernity (or civilization) on naming ceremonies ~ The importance or significance of naming ceremonies

UNIT 2: PUBERTY 246 - 257 ~ Puberty ~ Physical and emotional changes in boys and girls during puberty ~ The need to observe personal hygiene during puberty ~ Puberty rites among the Krobos (Dipo) and Akans (Bragoro) ~ Puberty rites for boys ~ Changes that have taken place in the performance of puberty

rites today ~ Importance of puberty rite to the initiate ~ Religious significance of puberty rite

UNIT 3: MARRIAGE RITES 258 - 270 ~ Traditional marriage rites among the Akans, Ewes and some

communities in Northern and Upper Regions of Ghana ~ Changes in traditional marriage rites ~ Christian marriage rites ~ Islamic marriage rites ~ The importance of marriage rites ~ Problems in marriage ~ Ways of sustaining marriage ~ The importance of sustaining marriage

xi

UNIT 4: DEATH RITES ~ Death ~ Traditional religious death rites ~ Influences on the performance of funeral rites ~ Death rites among Christians ~ Death rites among Muslims ~ Significance of death rites

SECTION 5: CHASTITY AND IMMORALITY

UNIT 1: LEADING A CHASTE LIFE ~ Chastity ~ How adolescents can remain chaste ~ Benefits of leading a chaste life

UNIT 2: IMMORALITY ~ Immorality ~ Immoral behaviour ~ Causes of immorality ~ Effects of immorality ~ Morality ~ Ways of leading a good moral life ~ Benefits of living a good moral life ~ Importance of morality ~ Sexually transmitted diseases ~ Teenage pregnancy

xii

271-280

281 -283

284-304

JHS 3 SECTION 1: MORAL TEACHINGS AND COMMITMENT

UNIT 1: MORAL TEACHINGS );;;- Moral teachings in the Bible );;;- The Ten Commandments );;;- Importance of the Ten Commandments );;;- The Book of Proverbs );;;- Moral teachings from the Book of Proverbs );;;- The Sermon on the Mount );;;- Moral teachings associated with the Sermon on the Mount );;;- The Epistle of James );;;- Moral teachings from the Book of James );;;- The Book of Ephesians );;;- Moral teachings from the Book of Ephesians );;;- Moral teachings from the Qur'an );;;- African Traditional Religious Wise Sayings );;;- Moral teachings in the wise sayings from the African

Traditional Religion

UNIT 2: COMMITMENT );;;- Commitment );;;- How individuals show commitment to God );;;- Showing commitment to the family, friends and society >- Importance of commitment to God, family, friends and society );;;- Practical application of commitment

SECTION 2: REWARD AND PUNISHMENT

UNIT 1: GOOD DEEDS AND REWARDS );;;- Good deeds );;;- Acts of good deeds );;;- Rewards >- Types of rewards >- The need to show appreciation );;;- Moral significance for performing good deeds

· UNIT 2: BAD DEEDS AND PUNISHMENT >- Bad deeds >- Acts considered as bad deeds >- Causes and effects of bad deeds );;;- Reasons for punishing bad deeds );;;- The need to avoid bad deeds >- Ways of accepting responsibilities for one's bad deed

xiii

304-322

323-327

328-332

333-339

UNIT 3: REPENTANCE ~ Repentance ~ Stages of repentance ~ Importance of repentance

SECTION 3: RELIGIOUS YOUTH ORGANIZATION

340-342

UNIT 1: RELIGIOUS YOUTH ORGNIZATIONS 343 - 348 ~ Religious Youth groups ~ Aims and objectives of Christian Youth Organizations ~ Islamic Youth Organizations ~ Aims and objectives of Islamic Youth Organizations ~ Traditional Religious Youth Organizations ~ Aims and objectives of Traditional Youth Organizations ~ Moral teachings of Youth Organizations ~ The need to join Youth Organisations/Functions of Youth Organizations ~ Problems Religious Youth Organizations face

SECTION 4: DECENCY AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

UNIT 1: DECENCY ~ Decency ~ Decent behaviours in society ~ The need to lead a decent life ~ Significance of decency

UNIT 2: SUBSTANCE ABUSE ~ Substance abuse ~ Types of substance abuse ~ Classification of substances that are abused and their effects

Hallucinogens Stimulants Depressants

~ Marijuana and its effects ~ Caffeine and its effects ~ Nicotine and its effects ~ Cocaine and its effects ~ Alcohol and its effects ~ Tranquilizers and its effects ~ Narcotics and its effects ~ Causes and effects of substance abuse ~ How to control substance abuse ~ The need to avoid substance abuse

349-351

352-363

~ Defensive skills that protect and defend an individual against substance abuse

HOW TO GET THE BEST GRADE 1.N R.M.E 364-369

xiv