FRS Form 1 Notes

Family and Religious Studies: Made Simple Form One
CONCEPT OF RELIGION
⛷️ Define religion/Explain the meaning of religion.
- religion is a belief in a Supreme Being and man's response through symbols and
actions to the presence of the Supreme Being.
⛷️ Discuss why it is important to study Family and Religious Studies
- to develop respect for human dignity and diversity
- to facilitate the development of unhu/Ubuntu among learners
- to create and promote social responsibility among learners
- to instil a sense of sound ethical norms from religions
- it leads to the understanding of the role of religion in the formulation of appropriate
ideologies that may help motivate, propel, and sustain development
- to promote religious tolerance and inter-religion dialogue.
- it enables learners to develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking, decision
making and conflict resolution.
- it nurtures leaders and promotes self-management
- improves learner's appreciation of enterprise and technology
- it creates a sense of belonging
- it creates an appreciation of the family's contribution to the development of the child
- it is a launch pad for various careers such as teaching, law, arts and humanities and
authorship among others.
- it helps learners to rationalize their faith and not to be emotional about faith matters.
⛷️ Identify /name the types of religion.
- monotheistic and polytheistic religions

- monotheistic religions believe in one Supreme Being eg Judaism, Christianity, Islam
and African Indigenous Religion
- describe each of the monotheistic religions, that is, the name(s) of the Supreme
Being, it's key beliefs rituals, sacred days, and so on
- polytheistic religions believe in many gods Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and
Taoism.
Religions can also be classified basing on the area of origin, hence
° Religions of Indian origins such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc
° Religions of Chinese origin such as Confucianism and Taoism
° Religions of Semitic origins such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Bahai-Faith
° African Indigenous Religions
Religions can also be classified basing on how they operate:
° Proselytizing Religions
- these are religions that seek converts. They preach and one is converted into that
religion, for example, Christian, Islam
°Non Proselytizing religions
- these religions do not seek to make converts. One is born into these religions and
does not have to be converted into the religion, for example, African Indigenous
Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

Religion
⛷️ List /Identify the characteristics of world religion.

- it penetrates different cultures
- has a worldwide appeal
- has a clear doctrine of salvation which can be available to the believers in a variety
of cultural contexts
- has sacred texts that can be translated into different languages
- it has places of worship and well defined structure in the places of worship
- has a founder
- has beliefs in spirits /angels
INDIGENOUS RELIGION
⛷️ Trace /discuss the history and development of Indigenous Religion.
-What is African Indigenous Religion?

- it refers to the religious beliefs and practices of the Africans.
- it is as old as Africans themselves
⛷️ Characteristics of African Indigenous Religion

* it has no founder
* one is born into the religion, it does not seek to make converts
- one can be a practising or non-practising member
- it does not have preachers
* has a belief in a Supreme Being who is called by different names depending on the
tribe and occasion.
* has a moral code based on the sacredness of the other being
- some of the forbidden things include killing, any form of injuring another person,
witchcraft and stealing
- the moral code also brings in the concept of respect of elders and honouring parents
- it is also enshrined in taboos, myths and wisdom sayings
* has a belief in the existence of spirits which are either good or bad and are very
useful to the existence of a society
* it is orally transmitted. It has no scripture or sacred texts so religious beliefs and
practices are spread by word of mouth from one generation to the other
* has a belief in life after death. If a person dies, he or she lives on and can still hear
and make decisions on life and it is for this reason that the person is informed of every
step taken even during the burial arrangements. There is a communion between the
dead and the living, with the dead having assumed a higher order than the still living.
- ancestors have a special place
* they venerate ancestors. The believers have a respect for the ancestors and the
ancestors are seen as participators in this life. Many people mistake this as ancestral

worship.
* has three worldviews (tripartite worldview) which are the living, the living dead and
the spirits
⛷️ List or state the names of the Supreme Being.

- Mwari
- Musikavanhu
- Chidzachepo
- Musiki
- Mutangakugara
- Chikara
- Muwanikwa
- Chirazamauya
- Chirozvamauya
- Samasimba
- Nyadenga
- Sekuru/Baba
- Ishe
- Chibwechitedza
- Dzivaguru
- Mambo
⛷️ Explain the names of the Supreme Being in Indigenous Religion.

- Mwari = God speaks through nature.
- Musikavanhu = God is the Creator of human beings
- Chidzachepo = God is the One who was ever there in the beginning before
everything else was created.
- Musiki = God is the Creator of the world
- Mutangakugara = God is the First to exist
- Chiara = God is The beast. There is no other creature that should be feared and
respected more than Him.
- Muwanikwa = God is the One who is found there. He is ever present.
- Chirazamauya = God is the One who brings blessings
- Chirazamauya = God is the One who withdraws blessings
- Samasimba = God is Almighty and has all the powers to do what he wishes
- Nyadenga = God is the owner of the heavens
- Sekuru/Baba = God is the eldest being who deserves great respect, more than the
respect given to a Grandfather/elder
- Ishe/ Tenzi = God is the Lord, the ruler.
- Chibwechitedza = God is an Unmoved mover. He makes things move yet He cannot
be moved.
- Dzivaguru = God is a Deep Pool that never dries
- Mambo = God is the King of kings. There is no other king greater than Him.

⛷️ Discuss the beliefs in the Supreme Being in Indigenous Religion.

- in Indigenous Religion, people believe in a Supreme Being called by different names
depending on the situation. For example, Mwari.
-Indigenous people believe in ancestors (midzimu)
- Indigenous people believe in spirit mediums (masvikiro)
- Indigenous people believe in the existence of other spirits, for example, shavi
rokurapa and shavi rokuvhima)
⛷️ Identify the attributes of the Supreme Being.

- God is everlasting
- God is all-powerful
- God is omniscient
- God is transcendent
- God is omnipresent
- God is the Creator
⛷️ Explain the attributes of God.
The attributes of God in African religion can be derived from the names given to God.
- God is omniscient - God is all-knowing and nothing can be hidden from God -
God is omnipotent - God is all-powerful - God omnipresent - God, through the spirits
is ever present. Sacred rivers, trees, animals,places and every human being has a spirit
of God. - God the rainmaker - God is the Healer - Situational attributes are derived
from various human situations that people may find themselves in, for example,
during a drought or in the middle of a war or under attack of wild animals. God may
be referred to as God of war or the protector. Most names of God are His attributes.
- God is self-existent = God does not need any help from other beings for him to exist
- God has no cause = God causes things to happen but he is was not caused -God is
immutable = God does not change or cannot be changed. God is perfect and never
changes - God is immortal = God doesn't die
> In groups, list the traditional places that are very significant in your area and
discuss how important they are in Indigenous Religion.
⛷️ Describe the importance of sacred places in IR.

What is a sacred place?
- A sacred place is a place which is regarded as holy, consecrated and blessed by God,
gods or spirits.
- mountains, eg Nyangani, Domboshava, Vhumba, Magweto, Nzunza, Njelele,
Manyangwa
- pools, eg Mabweadziwa, Chirorodziva, Mbelele, Gknawapotera
- rivers, eg Save, Zambezi, Gairezi, Ruya, Mupfure, Ngezi, Nyagadza
- caves, eg Chinhoyi, Domboshava, Silozwane
- rocks, eg Matopos, Great Zimbabwe monuments , Dula
- forests, eg Ndambakurimwa in Domboshava

- trees, eg Muhacha/muchakata, Muzhanje/mushuku, Muuyu, Musasa

- hut (family altar)
General worship, prayer, rituals and sacrifices are done in such places
Sacred places include the following:
The importance sacred places include the following:
* some rituals are conducted in sacred places
* kings were buried in caves
* environmental conservation
* sacred trees are only cut when home bringing ceremony is conducted
* sacred pools habour mermaids which are believed to take people for some time and
release them after endowing them with expertise and knowledge in healing
* sacred caves were used as hiding places by guerrillas during the Liberation Struggle
* the caves were used as places for treating and healing wounded guerrillas
* water from caves is believed to have healing powers
> Discuss how believers look after these places.

Pane miti isingatemwe, mhuka dzisingadyiwe, masango asingatemwe miti, masango
asingavhimwe mhuka, madziva asingaraurwi hove, matsime asingacherwe mvura uine
midziyo ine rota or dota, matsime asingasvikiwe uisne sipo, nzvimbo dzisingaitirwe
tsvina and so on
*JUDAISM*
*⛷️Define Judaism*
- Judaism is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that was founded by Moses though it

can be traced back to Abraham the father of the Jewish nation.
- the Jewish people are considered to be a chosen race in order to set an example of
holiness to the rest of the world.
- before Abraham's encounter with God, there was no monotheism; people had many
gods
- Abraham is considered to be the father of the Jewish faith because he promoted the
central idea of the Jewish faith which is monotheistic (there is one God)
*⛷️Narrate the historical background of Judaism.*

- Abraham's son, Isaac had a son, Jacob, also called Israel
- Judaism is traced back to Abraham the first patriarch, Isaac his son and Jacob,
Isaac's son.
- Jacob was finally named lsrael after he wrestled the angel of the Lord.
- Moses was born during the period when Israel was under the oppression of the
Egyptians.
- Moses ran away from Egypt after he had killed an Egyptian man and hid in hills
- he met Jethro and started looking after his sheep
- God revealed himself to Moses while the latter was tending sheep

- he sent him to Egypt to free the Israelites

- Moses is understood as the writer of the first five books of the Bible, known as the
Pentateuch
- these books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers
- Religiously, Moses was the first to reveal the name of Yahweh and also to be a strict
monotheist
- he is regarded as the first prophet and as the Law-Giver
- he played a big role in the Covenant mediation in Mount Sinai
- it was during the time of Moses that the office of priests and Levites became so
functional and not everyone could be a priest
- the Covenant box, which is also very central, was established during the time of
Moses.
*⛷️Key Jewish beliefs*

Judaism does not have a formal mandatory beliefs but their faith focuses on the
relationship between God the creator, Israel and the land of Israel.
# There are 13 articles of faith which are a minimum requirement for Jewish faith:
- God exists
- God is one and unique
- God is incorporeal (does not have a body like human beings) He is spirit
- God is eternal (has no beginning or end). He does not die.
- prayer must be directed to God and to no other
- the words of the prophets are true
- Moses' prophecies are true and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
- the written Torah and the oral Torah were given to Moses
- there will be no other Torah
- God knows the thoughts and deeds of man
- God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked
-the Messiah will come
- the dead will be resurrected
NB: Jewish people believe in the Torah which is the whole of the laws given at Sinai.
They believe that they must follow God's laws which govern daily life
Later legal books, written by rabbis, determine the law as it applies to life in each new
place and time
*⛷️The Ten Commandments as written in the Torah are:*

- worship no other God but me
- do not make images to worship
- do not misuse the name of God
- observe the Sabbath Day. Keep it Holy
- Honour and respect your father and mother.
- do not murder
- do not commit adultery
- do not steal

- do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other people.
- do not envy other's possessions
*Groups of Jewish people who have a different understanding of the

interpretation of the Torah*
°Orthodox Jews - they believe that all of the practices in the Torah must be obeyed
without question
°Conservative and Reform Jews - believe that the ancient laws and practices have to
be interpreted for modern life with inclusion of contemporary sources and with more
concern with community practices than with ritual practices
°Reform Jews - allow everyone to sit together, men and women, and both Hebrew and
and the local languages are spoken in services
*Jewish sacred writings include the following:

Jewish sacred texts*
- TENAKH: a collection of sacred writings which includes Torah + Nevim (21 books
prophets) + Ketuvim (13 books of writings including Psalms, histories, prophecies,
poems, hymns and sayings)
- the Torah is written on scrolls and kept in a special cabinet called Aron Hakodish
(the Holy Ark) in synagogues
- it is read with a pointer called yad (hand) to keep it free from being spoiled.
- each week one section is read until the entire Torah is completed and the reading
begins again
The TALMUD is also an important collection of Jewish writings.

- it is a recording of the Rabbis' discussion of the way to follow the Torah at that time.
- later texts, the Mishna Torah and Shulhan Aruch are recordings of rabbinic
discussions from later periods
*⛷️Give the names of the Supreme Being in Judaism.*

- Yahweh: English Jehovah
- Elohim: The true God who appeared to Abraham Gen 28:13, 31:42,53
- El 'Elyon: God who is the Most High 14:18-24
- Elohai: My God
- El Roi: The Lord who sees Gen 16:13
- El Shaddai: God Almighty who is all sufficient - Gen 17:1,43:14
- El Bethel: God who appeared to me at Bethel
- Sabaoth

- Tzevaot: Lord of Hosts

- Jah: Psalm 150
- El Olam: the God who is everlasting Gen 21:33
- Adonai: My Lord
- Ehyeh Asher Ehyer: I am who I am.
- Shalom: Peace
NB: Other names of God are taken from his attributes and are not as revered as the
above.
It is a religious taboo to mention the name of God in vain.
*⛷️Identify the attributes of the Supreme Being in Judaism.

(These are biblically driven)*
- God is transcendent - he operates above his creation
- God is all-knowing - there is nothing that is hidden before God. God knows
everything.
- God is all-seeing - God is invisible (cannot be seen), but He sees everything.
- God is all-powerful - God is able to do anything. There is nothing that impossible to
Him.
- God omnipresent - God is found everywhere.
- God is eternal - God has no beginning and will never die.
- God is just - God is the final judge. His judgments are true and he has no favour (He
is impartial.
- God is universal - God is the God of all living things
- God is merciful - God shows mercy to his people (He is kind). He forgives sinners
who repent (who ask for forgiveness and stop doing bad things)
*⛷️Jewish holidays*
- work is not permitted on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, on the first and second day
of Succoth, on Shemini Atzeret, on Simcha Torah, on Shavuot, and on the first,
second, seventh and eighth days of Passover.
- the 'work' prohibited on those holidays is similar to that which is prohibited on
Shabbat, except that cooking, backing, transferring fire and carrying, all of which are
forbidden on Shabbat, are permitted on holidays.
- when a holiday appears on Shabbat, the full Shabbat restrictions are observed.
-
*⛷️Jewish festivals*
1. The Sabbath
- the most important day in the Jewish holidays - a special prayer is recited as the
candles burn
- no work is done on this day
- unleavened bread (Challah) is eaten on this day

- Sabbath begins before sunset every Saturday and ends one hour after sunset on
Saturday after a prayer known as Havdallah
2. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

- celebration of the New Year
- they blow a ram's horn known as shofar, to strengthen their faith
- they prepare special and symbolic meals on these two days
- ten days after Rosh Hashanah are considered holy days of repentance leading to the
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar
- they pray and fast on this day, symbolised by wearing of white garments
3. Succoth
- this is eight days period of enjoying
- (matumba emapistori - in Shona) these are temporary booths covered with branches
-they bind together plants such as cyron, palm branch, myrtles and willow as
described in the Torah
- these are used individually by Jews during services in synagogues and the booths
4. Shemini Atzeret/Simcha Torah

- this day is marked by a festive meal.
- it comes a day after the succoth.
- the annual reading of the Torah, in its entirety, is done on Shimchat Torah
- it is done in a celebratory way and scrolls are read in all synagogues
5. Chanuka
- it commemorates the recapture of the Temple in 165 BCE from Assyrian-Greek
oppressors
6. Purim
- it commemorates the saving from the massacre of the Jewish community under
Persian rule in 450 BCE, as recalled in the book of Esther that is publicly read on this
day.
- during this day, there is exchange of gifts and works of charity
7. Passover
- they celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from the Egyptian slavery
- it's celebrated over eight days.
- they consume unleavened bread, bitter herbs and wine or grape juice
8. Lag B'Omer
- it marks the time between the exodus from Egypt and the revelation of the Torah
9. Shavuot
- they commemorate God's gift of the Torah to the Jews on Mount Sinai

- this was the day Jews formally became a nation
10. The Tisha B'Av

- it is celebrated on the 9th day of the month of Aviv and is the final of three weeks of
mourning the destruction of the Holy Temple on the same date in 587 BCE and 70
AD.
*#More questions*
1. What is Judaism?
2. Who is the founder of Judaism?
3. Who is the 'father' of the Jewish nation?
4. Write brief notes on the following Jewish Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Joseph
and Moses.
5. List the names of the Supreme Being in Judaism.
6. List the attributes of the Supreme Being in Judaism. List any 5 Jewish
holidays.
7. Describe any 5 Jewish sacred days.
8. Give any 5 Jewish sacred writings.
9. Discuss the Ten Commandments of the Jewish Religion.
10. Discuss the importance of any 5 of the Ten Commandments.
11. List any materials used as symbols during Jewish festivals.
CHRISTIANITY
⛷️ Define Christianity.
-Christianity is a religion based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.
- this is found in the New Testament and in a number of traditions that were handed
down from generation to generation
- believers in Christianity are called Christians and they worship in a church
- a group of worshippers is known as a congregation.
⛷️ Narrate the historical background of Christianity.

- it developed out of Judaism in the first century CE
- it's founded on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
- the three major branches of Christianity are Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox,
and Protestantism
- there are subcategories within each of these branches
- Christianity is the largest of all religions in the world
- it is found in every continent
- they believe in one God, who is one being and exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- they believe that Jesus is the divine and human Messiah sent to save the world

- believers are saved by faith in Jesus Christ

- the sacred text of Christianity is the Bible, including both the Hebrew Scriptures
(also known as the Old Testament) and the New Testament
- Christians gather in churches for worship
- Jesus is the point of origin and central figure of faith
- he is the Lord and savior as well as Son of God
- Jesus was born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem (Matthew 1:18ff), in fulfillment of
Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2
- at the age of twelve, he was found teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41)
- the life of Jesus is best described in the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John, while his teachings are presented by all the writers of the New Testament of the
Bible
- he started his ministry when he was about thirty years old.
- in the Sermon on the Mount, the eight Beatitudes, affirmed the Ten Commandments
of God, and taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer and the Golden Rule.
- He spent much of his ministry by the sea of Galilee, preaching in such towns as
Capernaum (John 6:59),Bethsaida (Mark 8:22), and Magdala (Matthew 15:39)
- he also travelled to surrounding areas such as Caesaria Philippi (Matthew 16:13),
Cana (John 2:1-11), and Tyre (Mark 7:24-30)
- when his hour (death) had come, he headed towards Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
° Jesus taught in parables

- it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning
- parables are found in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke
° Jesus performed many miracles, demonstrating his power over nature and spirits,
confirming that the kingdom of God is at hand (Mark 1:15)
- there are different types of miracles Jesus performed :
° physical miracles - making the blind see, walking on water etc
° moral miracles - forgiveness of sins or driving out demons
- only three miracles appear in all four gospels
° his own resurrection
° the healing of the blind
° feeding of the 5000 through multiplication of the few loaves
- his ministry spanned 30 years before his passion, crucifixion, death, resurrection and
ascension
- he preached love, mercy and peace (John 15:12-13)
The Early Christian Church
- the early Christian church spread throughout the Roman empire through the
teachings of Jesus, the apostles and persecution and martyrdom
° Traditions in the early church included:

- The Memorial of the Last Supper

- the Mass or Divine Liturgy with the celebration of the Eucharist, and
- Prayer, such as the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed - a profession of faith
during baptism
° The Apostolic Fathers were a group of early Christian writers who knew one of the
Apostles and lived about 75-150 AD
- they sought to define, organize, and defend the faith
- examples are those of Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, Polycarp of Smyrna
and the author(s) of the Didache
> St Ignatius was the first to use the term Catholic Church in his letter to the
Smyrnaeans
- the word catholic means universal and refers to the universal Church of Christ
- he introduced the church hierarchy of bishop, priest, and deacon for the early
churches
> St Justin the Martyr (100-165) was the first apologist or Defender of faith
°Constantine and the Edict of Milan 313 AD

- an edict is a proclamation of law
- in Milan, a law had been enacted which saw persecution of christians throughout
three centuries of the Roman Empire, especially at the hands of Nero (64AD), Trajan
(98 - 117AD), right up to Diocletian (284 - 305)
- nevertheless, the persecution led to the spread of Christianity
- in 306, when Constantine became emperor of of the West, he won a battle against
Maxentius at the battle at Milian Bridge, and attributed his victory to the Christian
God
- so, in 313, another edict was passed in Milan which so Christianity breathe a sigh of
relief through religious tolerance
- that marked the end of christian persecution
- Constantine considered himself a Christian and did much to protect and support
Christianity
- under him, Christianity regained its possessions that were once taken, Sunday as the
Lord's Day was declared a day of rest, 25 December was celebrated as the birthday of
Jesus, and several churches were built, in particular, the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem,
the church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and the church of St Peter in Rome at the
request of Helena (Constantine's mother)
The Council of Nicea
The relationship between the Father and the Son

- there arose a controversy concerning the relationship between the Father and the
Son.
- it was called the Arian controversy

- Constantine called the first Ecumenical Council of all five Patriarchates in 325 AD,
known as the Council of Nicea
- the council declared that the Son was of the same substance - homoousios - with the
Father and formed the initial Nicene Creed
- the Nicean Creed was expanded and finalized at the Council of Constantinople in
381 to include the homoousios for the Holy Spirit as well, by quoting John 15:26, "the
Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father," to form the Constantinoplitan Creed (still
called the Nicene Creed)
- the Apostles' and the Nicene Creeds are important to the Tradition of the church
- in keeping with the custom of that time, Constantine was baptised just prior to his
death in 337 AD
- he considered himself both in head of state and father of the Christian churches
- the alliance of church and state first seen under Constantine was the beginning of
Christendom (the state of being a Christian)
The Canon of the New Testament (397 AD)

- there were three stages in the formation of the Gospels: the life and teachings of
Jesus Christ, the oral tradition of the Apostles, and the written word
- there were eight named writers of the New Testament: Sts Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John, Paul, Peter, James and Jude
NB: None of the New Testament writers mentions the destruction of Jerusalem that
took place in AD 70
- in this regard, no one can really tell when the books of the New Testament were
actually written
- the Tradition of the Fathers of the church was important to the early Christianity, for
they were the ones who chose those inspired books which best reflected the life and
teachings of Jesus Christ and were also involved in the interpretation of Scripture
Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, first proposed a Canon of the New Testament in 180 AD
- the three Fathers of the church - Athanasius of Alexanderia, Jerome and Augustine
of Hippo agreed that 27 books were the inspired Word of God
- the Canon of the New Testament of the Bible was confirmed at the Third Council of
Carthage (Tunisia) in 397 AD
Factors that led to the spread of Christianity
° Persecutions - those who ran away from persecutors evangelised wherever they
went
° Pax Romana - Roman peace enabled evangelism to take place leading to the growth
of Christianity
° Roman civilization - letter postage and road network enabled traveling and
preaching to be easy
° Colonisation - wherever Colonisation took place Christianity also spread, for
example, Africa

Key beliefs in Christianity
The key beliefs in Christianity are enshrined in the Apostles' and the Nicene Creeds
Christians believe in:
- God
- Jesus Christ
- the Holy Spirit
- baptism for the remission of sins
- the second coming of Jesus Christ (parousia)
- life after death
- resurrection of the body
- eternal life
- in angels
Christian celebrations and holidays
- Christmas - 25 December
- Easter - the celebrations begin on a Thursday (the Last Supper), Friday (his death),
Saturday (preaching to the dead in Hades), Sunday (rose from the dead) and stretch to
Monday
- Pentecost - fifty days after the Passover to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for
the Mount Sinai Covenant. It was on this day that the disciples received the Holy
Spirit (Acts 2:1)
- Sabbath day
- sacramental holiday - a sacrament is a passage of grace and people celebrate when
these sacraments are administered to them. There are seven sacraments: Baptism,
confirmation, eucharist, confession, Anointing of sick, marriage and Holy Orders
The Scriptures
The Bible has two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament
- it is considered to be the word of God
- the New Testament is made up of the gospels, letters and the writings
The attributes of the Supreme Being in Christianity
- God is transcendent
- God is omnipotent
- God is omniscient
- God is omnipresent
- God is eternal

- God is omnibenevolent: God is goodness itself

- God is impeccable: God is perfect
- God is incorporeal
- God is oneness: There's no other
- God is love
ISLAM
⛷️ Define /explain the term Islam.

⛷️ The major teachings / beliefs in Islam
- Islam means 'submission to God'
- it is defined as a way of life
- it's a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion which was founded by Mohammed, the
Prophet
- one who submits or surrenders to Allah is called a Muslim
- the basic Creed of Islam is expressed in Shahaddah, the declaration of faith, "There
is no god but Allah and Mohammed is His Servant and Messenger."
- as a universal message of One God, Islam was revealed by Allah to many prophets
of different nations and different times including Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob,
David, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him)
- thus, Muslims accept all the prophets of God previous to Mohammed without
distinction to any of them
- Allah is unique and is different from all things and creatures
- nothing or no person can be equated with Allah
- the greatest sin in Islam is to associate a partner with Allah (Brown, 1975)
⛷️ Narrate /trace the history and development of Islam.

- Islam traces its origin to Prophet Mohammed who was born in a city of Mecca, ain
Arabia about 570 AD
- most Muslims argue that Mohammed did not found Islam, but he simply reminded
people of what they already knew
- Muslims believe that Abraham was a Muslim
- at the age of 25 he worked for a wealthy widow named Khadija was aged 40 whom
he later married
- they had 6 children, four daughters and two sons
- five of these children died in their infancy, only one daughter, Fatima survived
- at the age of 40, he received a revelation calling him to denounce the idolatry and
polytheism of Mecca and preach the existence of one God, Allah
- he was encouraged by his wife who was his first convert
- but in the early years only a few other people followed him
- some of these were prominent citizens, who are known as 'the Companions'
- in 622 AD, at the request of the citizens of Medina, he left Mecca for Medina,
accompanied by a few followers

-this is the celebrated Hejira or 'emigration', from which the Muslim calendar begins
- while in Medina, Mohammed and his followers resorted to looting in order to fend
for themselves (Watt, 1982)
- over the next few years Mohammed organised his followers and the citizens of
Medina as a religious and political community and began to attack the trade caravans
from Mecca
- meanwhile he had expelled most of the Jewish tribes, whom he had hoped to win,
and gradually incorporated the Bedouin tribes of Western and Central Arabia into the
Muslim community
- in 630 AD, he launched an attack against Mecca, which finally surrendered to him
- Mohammed immediately embarked on eliminating the polytheists
- in 630, the city of Mecca was defeated and it fell under the control of Mohammed
- he then destroyed all the idols of Mecca
- he rededicated the ancient sanctuary of the Ka'aba to Allah, making it the central
shrine of pilgrimage for Muslims
- it remains so to the present day
- the next two years were spent consolidating the tribes of Arabia
- then suddenly, in 632 AD Mohammed died without naming a successor
- he was succeeded by a series of caliph (successors), the first two of whom were the
Companions, Abu Bakr and Umar
⛷️ Branches of Islam
-there are two basic groups within Islam, the Sunni and Shi'ites.
- these two differ on two fundamental issues: line of succession following Mohammed;
and the religious authority
- the overwhelming majority of Muslims are the Sunnis, who believe that all authority
should be elected by the consensus of the community.
- they maintain that the Qur'an and Hadith, as interpreted by Muslim scholars, are the
only authoritative basis of Islam.
- the Shi'ites, on the other hand, believe that the line of succession is through the
family of Mohammed
- they believe that religious authority rests in an Imam, whose interpretations and
pronouncements regarding the Qur'an, doctrine, and practice are divinely inspired and
infallible
- an Imam is an Islamic Congregational leader who is chosen on the basis of his
knowledge, practice and piety
⛷️ List or state the names of the Supreme Being.
⛷️ Identify /describe the attributes of the Supreme Being.
There are about 99 names and attributes of Allah in Islam. The 100th name is only
known by a Carmel. This secret gives the Carmel dignity though it does not know the
other 99 names. This only shows that Allah cannot be exhausted.
- Muslims show great respect to the spoken and written name of Allah.
- if the name of Allah is written on a piece of paper, it should be handled with care.

No one should tread on it.

° Ar Rahman - The All Merciful
° Ar Rahim - The Most Merciful
° Al Malik - The King
°Al Quddus - The Most Holy
°As Salaam - Peace and Blessing
°Al Mu'min - The Guarantor
°Al Muhaymin - The Guardian
°Al Muhymin - The Preserver
°Al Aziz - The Almighty /The Self-sufficient
°Al Jabbar - The Powerful / The Irresistible
°Al Mutkabiir - The Greatest
°Al Khaaliq - The Creator
°Al Baari - The Maker
°Al Ghaffaar - The Ever Forgiving
°Al Wahhaab - The Bestower
> The most used names are: Allah The Merciful, The Compassionate, The Forgiver,
The Clement, The Affectionate and kind
- although Allah has many attributes, he cannot be fully understood by man.
- Allah is the God of all humanity, but is perceived differently in other religions.
- Allah cannot be personified. Although 2 of his attributes are that he sees and hears,
this doesn't mean that he has eyes and ears like human beings. His seeing and hearing
cannot be comprehended by finite beings.
- Allah, the almighty, is ideal (he is the Just and the Judge, as well as the avenger of
evil.) Unlike in concept of the original sin, in Christianity, we are accountable for our
own actions. No bearer can bear the burden of another.
- unlike in the Judaeo-christian concept of God having to rest, Moslems say tiredness
is a human attribute, which is not applicable to God who is infallible.
- Allah is preexistent to all he has created.
- Allah has perfect knowledge (omniscient)
- everything is predestined
Five pillars of Islam

- # The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundation of Moslem life.
- (Iman/Shahaadah) faith or belief in the oneness of God and the finality of the
prophethood of Mohammed, "There is no god worthy of worship except Allah (God)
and Mohammed is His Prophet and Messenger."
- this statement is heard by a Muslim throughout his or her life.
- it is uttered or whispered into the ears of a Muslim child at birth.
- the same words are said by a Muslim at his or her deathbed.
- if one declares these words publicly in the presence of three Muslim witnesses, one
becomes a convert - Iman/Shahaadah reminds the Moslem about the purpose of their
life, which is to worship Allah alone by following the teachings of his messenger,
Mohammed (PBUH) - when they declare their faith, they are united with other

Moslems as everyone tries to fulfill this purpose and feel closer to Allah -
(Salah/Salat) Prayer. Moslems pray 5 times a day, at dawn (Fajr), midday
(Dhohr/Zuhr), late afternoon(Asr), sunset (Maghrib) and at nightfall (Isha).
- before the prayer is done, ablution or ritual washing is required
- the prayer has to be done in a clean place, that is, no dirt or toilet
- where water is not available, one may use ashes or sand
- prayers are done facing Mecca (northeast direction)
- Friday prayer is a mandatory Congregational prayer conducted by an Imam who is
chosen on the basis of his knowledge, practice and piety - Salah reminds Moslems
of their duty to Allah, in worshipping him throughout their lives, and that all Moslems
are equal in front of Allah. - it brings Moslems together and makes them feel Allah
is watching them at all times. - it stops them from making everyday life more
important than serving Allah. This is because ordinary life stops for prayer. -
(Zakat/Zakah) Charity/Almsgiving is obligatory. They do it to help the needy. - it
reminds richer Moslems of their duty to the poor, widows, prisoners, debtors,
travellers and the needy, and strengthens the feeling of brotherhood among Moslems.
- the pillar demonstrates the principle of social responsibility
- It also stops wealthy Moslems from making money more important than Allah
- charity is a religious tax that entails payment of two and half percent of one's annual
savings or capital - (Sawn/saum) Fasting during the month of the Ramadan is
obligatory. However, those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are
menstruating, pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an
equal number of days later in the year if they are healthy and able. Children begin to
fast from puberty, although many start earlier. This is done for self-purification and
self-restraint. - Sawn reminds Moslems of the teachings of the Koran because the
whole Koran is usually recited during this month. - it makes them focus on their
faith and stops them from making the desires of the body more important than service
to Allah. There are three types of fasting: ritual fasting, fasting as compensation for
repentance ascetic fasting - (Hajj) Pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca is an
obligation to those who are physically and financially able to do so.
- unmarried women should be accompanied by a male relative
- anyone who would have undertaken the pilgrimage will have the title Al-Hajj
prefixed to his or her name. - Hajj reminds Moslems of Ibrim (alaihi salaam) and his
worship and devotion to Allah alone.
- Mount Arafat, which Muslims regard as the hill of mercy, reminds Muslims of Allah,
forgiving humanity
- tradition has it that Adam and Eve reunited at this hill after their expulsion from
paradise
- it is also believed that Prophet Mohammed delivered his last sermon at Mount Arafat
before he died
- it brings the international community of Moslems together. - it makes them focus
on Allah and teaches the importance of sacrifice. These Pillars are important acts
of worship that develop the Moslem character and strengthen Islam. NB: All the
Pillars are commanded by Allah, but not all of them are duties for all Moslems as

those who are unable are excused by Allah. - those who are too ill to fast or too poor
to pay zakah or go on Hajj, can still lead a life of total obedience to Allah. - that
leaves the prayer - those who cannot do the movements of prayer because they are too
sick or too old, can sit or even lie down to pray. - this shows great mercy of Allah in
that Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear.
Scriptures in Islam
Muslims use two types of scriptures, namely the Qur'an and the Hadith
⛷️ Nature of the Koran. - Moslems believe the koran is the word of Allah - it's
divine, heavenly, authentic and considered to be miracle - the first surah to be
revealed was surah alaq. This happened in the cave of hira on the night of power
(laylatul qadr) through the angel Jibrail or Gabriel. - it was written to correct any
errors in previous holy books such as the Old and New Testaments - the entire Koran
was revealed over a period of 23 years. - prophet Mohammed dictated the verses to
his scribes and tell them where to write each and where to place them - many of his
companions memorised the Koran - the Koran has 114 surahs (chapters), 30 ajza
(parts). Each surah has ayat (verses). - all chapters begin with Bismillah except surah
taubah. - it was compiled into book form during the time of Abu Bakr, after a
number of huffaz were matyred. The responsibility was given to Said bin Thabit. -
the copy was kept with Hafsa, the daughter of Umar. - during the time of Uthman,
differences arose in it's recitation. He asked for 7 copies to be made in the dialect of
the Quraish, from the original that was kept with Hafsa, and had them distributed in
different regions. All the other copies were to be disregarded. - ⛷️ Evaluate the
importance of the Koran in Islam. - Koran and Islam are essential for one another. -
it is the Holy book that has been given to the Moslems from Allah - the teachings of
the Koran are the rules for the Moslems to lead a favoured life - the Koran teaches
the Moslems to live in peace, respect and care for each other and follow the right
way. - it teaches them how to please and pray to Allah. - no other book contains the
information inside the Koran. - according to Imam Ali, nothing else is needed after
the Koran and nobody will be sufficient without the Koran - the Koran is the source
of whole knowledge. All other books are human learning of Allah's creation. - All
information begins from the Koran - Moslems must read and understand the
Koran. - each of the attributes of Allah has practical implications in the life of a firm
Moslem, for example, clear comprehension of Allah's uniqueness improves a person's
Taqwa, belief
The Hadith
- this is the second in authority to the Qur'an
- according to Parrinder (1971: 483), these books are organized into chapters which
are assembled after shifting a great number of commonly circulated hadiths
- the hadith collections are regarded by conservative Muslims as accurate and reliable
records of Mohammed's sayings and actions (Prophet's examples)
- however, some scholars argue that there are a lot of contradictions within these
books such that they cannot be regarded as accurate

- some Muslims reject the authority of the hadith and they appeal more to the
authority of the Qur'an
The fall of man in Islam

- the fall of humanity has everything to do with forgetfulness and negligence
- this is mentioned five times in the Qur'an
- before the fall, Adam possessed three things, namely: Divinity, Knowledge and
Power
- even angels worshipped him
- after he tasted the forbidden tree, he was expelled from heaven
- this marked the separation of man from God
- this alienated man from God but God is not alienated from man
- God is merciful, forgiving, clement and kind
Salvation in Islam
- in Islam, salvation is not an act of conversion, but restoration
- it's a process of 'remembrance, recollection'
- this process is initiated by the act repentance and giving up everything that
perpetuates forgetfulness
- Muslims believe that Adam repented of his sin and reunited with Eve at Mount
Arafat and he became God's first Prophet
- for a Moslem, repentance is to live a life marked by the consciousness of God's
presence
- it's a realization that humanity is far from God and that God is near
- salvation implies humanity becoming Muslims, submitting themselves to God's will
and remembering him always
- for one to become a Muslim, one has to recognize the first pillar (Shahaddah), there
is no god but Allah and Mohammed is His Prophet.
- observing the ritual prayer of five times a day reminds Muslims that they are
worshipful servants of Allah
- in prayer, their foreheads touch the floor and this is the highest expression of
humility
- salvation also means believing that God has finally and fully revealed himself in the
Qur'an
Three most important holy places in Islam
1. Ka'aba : Muslims have to undertake a journey to the city of Mecca. Mohammed

was born in Mecca. Ka'aba is the holiest place in Mecca where Mohammed was
born.
Ka'aba is a cube shaped building in the city of Mecca.
- it is believed that it was built by Abraham
- it contains the black stone, which has been given by Angel Gabriel to Abraham and
which pilgrims come and kiss on the Hajj

Mohammed lived for many years and is buried
2. Medina : is the second most holy city of Islam as it is where - the Prophet's mosque
contains his tomb and is the site of the first tomb
3. Jerusalem : the Dome (structure) of the rock was built between 685 - 691AD as a
shrine for pilgrims on the place from where Mohammed ascended to heaven
#RELIGION AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.

RELIGION FAMILY AND IDENTITY
⛷️ Define a family.
- the word family comes from a Latin word Familia which refers to a group of people
affiliated either by birth or marriage
- therefore, a family is a group of people linked together by blood ties or by other
circumstances such as marriage or coexistence
- other circumstances include belonging to the same religion, work place, country,
background and so on
- there are two ways of looking at a family:

° immediate family - it includes spouses, parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters
° extended family - it includes uncles, nephews, nieces, and siblings in law
- the difference between the immediate and the extended family is not so clear such
that the bracket of the extended family may be broadened (made bigger)
⛷️ Define family identity.

- identity refers to the qualities, beliefs, personalities, looks, and expressions that
make a person or group of people
- a family identity denotes (means) a common feature that separates a nuclear family
from other families.
- a nuclear family is a family made up of father, mother and children
- a family identity can be a family resemblance, family values, family name or family
belief system
⛷️ Describe a family structure.

- A family structure refers to the combination of relatives that comprise (make up) a
family
- it entails (means) the interactions between family members and their defined roles in
the family system
⛷️ Roles of family members

- roles are specified duties of a given individual

- family duties are responsibilities given to each member according to gender,

birthright, age and expertise
- however, some roles apply universally, for example, a brother can still take a father's
role, depending on the situation and relevant skills
Father's roles
- counseling family members
- disciplining family members
- providing food for the family (breadwinner)
- supervising the activities of family members
- making and finalizing decisions
- grooming the male children
- providing shelter
- providing security from disasters and enemies
- interpreting family ties and connections
Mother's roles
- Counseling children
- providing food in the house
- grooming the girl child
- supervising children in activities such as household chores
- preparing the girl child for marriage
- nursing children
- performing household chores
- source of reference on social issues
- interpreting social ties and connections
The boy child (brother)

- assisting in crop cultivation
- looking after livestock
- erecting and maintaining infrastructure in the home
- providing security in the absence of the father
- guiding the junior siblings
- serving as requested by their seniors
- can command junior siblings
The girl child (sister)

- helping the mother in household chores
- helping in agricultural activities
- taking care of junior siblings
- serving the senio members as requested
The aunt
- takes the role of the mother

- her special role is in guiding girl children through societal norms and values in
respect of African traditions
- the aunt from the paternal side is the one who is expected to assist girls on marital
issues
The uncle
- an uncle is a male figure who can be one's father's brother or a mother's brother
- if he is a father's brother, he performs some fatherly roles
- as for mother's brother, he concentrates on guiding his nephew as far as maturity is
concerned
- just like the paternal aunt, this uncle specializes on the nephew's marriage
preparations and family affairs thereafter
Types of families
Monogamous family
- mono means one or single
- gamos means marriage
- monogamy means marriage to one partner
- a monogamous family is a family where a man marries one wife and they have their
children
- this kind of a family has peace as there is no competition for resources
Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of a family?
Polygamous family
- poly means many
- polygamy refers to a man marrying more than one wives
- a polygamous family is a family of more than one wives
- there is usually strife (conflict) as there will be constant competition for man's
attention, resources, love, and living space
- grooming of children becomes difficult and some children will grow up with
bitterness
Single parent headed family

- one parent will be in charge of the family due to different circumstances such as
death, desertion or divorce
- this may either be a father or mother
- children raised by a single parent might have challenges of role models or might
suffer from triangulation (looking for
- the parent may be stressed as he or she takes the roles of two people

Child headed family

- a child who is under the legal age would be forced by circumstances to look after the
siblings
- factors that lead to child headed families include emigration of parents in search of
greener pastures or death of parents
- HIV and AIDS have claimed lots of lives and in some cases both parents died
- the orphans are left to fend for themselves
- usually the eldest child assumes the role of a parent and begins to make decisions for
the family and do such chores that are a preserve of the parents
- this, more often than not, puts psycho-social pressure on the child
- this usually affects the child's development and academic performance
Nuclear family
- this is the traditional family which includes the core of the family or the smallest
family unit
- the family will be identified by a common name, that is, a surname that will be
attached to the first name
- the family will also have one totem
- a totem joins together members of the same clan, like the Mhofu clan or the Shumba
clan
NB: In this case, a totem of a clan is a religion because it binds people of that clan
together, and it is through the totem that that clan communicate with the spirit world
Community/Society
A community or society is a group of people made up of different families who live
within the same locality and have common interests, norms, religion (mutupo), values,
village, town, or neighborhood
Types of communities
° Interest - a group of people who share the same interests or passion, for example, a
religious community
° Action - a group of people united in a certain purpose or advocacy group, for

example, the feminist movement

° Place - a group of people bound together by geographical space, for example, a

village or town or country
° Practice - a group of people bound together by a profession, for example, a

community of doctors or lawyers
° Circumstance - a group of people brought together by external events or situations,

for example, a community of refugees
If a person says, {My community}, these two simple words can say a lot about the
person.
- it can say where that person comes from
- by association, it can say what he or she believes
- it can give us insights into his or her friends and connections or who his or her
family is and his or her lifestyle
Types of societies
Patriarchal society
- this is where the lineage of a person is traced through the father
- the children belong to the father and the mother moves in from her family origin and
joins the husband's family
Matriarchal society
- this is where the lineage of a person is traced through the mother
- the child belongs to the mother and the child takes the mother's family name
- in the event of death of the husband, the children do not join the husband's family
- they are taken by the mother
NB: The Zimbabwean society is mainly patriarchal
⛷️ Describe the role of Indigenous Religion in shaping family identity.

Religion and the family
> the family structure is a reflection of the religious life of the African people
- the most senior becomes the leader, the one in charge
- the same applies in religion, the most senior becomes the High Priest
- religion directs how a family is to be run and stipulates religious duties which are
mostly given to the senior family members, for example, Kurova Guva ceremonies
which are mostly led by senior family members
> In extended families, which are patriarchal, the family name and totem are adopted
from one's religion and thus religion shapes the family identity
> the family is kept together by religion

- in cases of marriage, the spirit world is involved and participates in every decision of
the mortals
> the family gets values, norms and traditions from religion, and these define the
family and shape the identity of the family
> in religious ceremonies, members absent are represented by members present who
have the same totem and their presence is spiritually acknowledged, for example, a
religious duty can be performed on behalf of the person and the effect is the same
> religion defines a person, for example, totems are not imposed on a different person
-in such a case, the spirit world intervenes
# Religion and Education.
⛷️ Define education.
- education is the process of receiving and giving systematic instruction
- it is an act or process of imparting knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and habits
⛷️ List types of education.
i) Formal education
ii) Informal education
iii) Non-Formal education
⛷️ Outline characteristics of Formal Education
- it's planned and with a particular end in view, for example, certification
- it's limited to a specific period of time, for example, four years
- usually, it is given by qualified teachers
- it includes activities outside and inside the classroom
- it is given in schools, colleges, or formal institutions which are established for that
purpose
- it observes strict discipline
- the learner and the teacher are aware of the need for discipline when engaging
themselves in formal education
- the process of teaching will involve supervision, instruction, set plans, definite aims,
and principles
- usually, there is a certificate awarded at the end of the instruction following
assessment
- it is a conscious act
⛷️ State characteristics of Informal Education.

- it is incidental and spontaneous (natural)

- there is no conscious effort involved in it
- it is learnt outside the classroom following an informal curriculum
- it is neither pre-planned nor deliberate
- the learner learns many habits, manners and patterns at home, in the community,
from peers, in the society as well as via media
- it is not imparted by any specialized agency such as the school or college
- there is no prescribed time-table or curriculum
- it consists of experiences and actual living in the family and community
- it may take a negative direction if not well checked
Characteristics of Non-Formal Education

- it is outside the realm of formal education
- it conscious and deliberate
- it is structured and planned but outside the realm of Formal education
- it is organized and systematic but organized outside the framework of the established
formal system
- it is organized for a homogeneous group
- such a group has to be identified in terms of the learning needs of the members
- it is programmed to serve the needs of the group Identified
- there is flexibility in the design of the curriculum and the scheme of evaluation
# Religion and Gender roles.
⛷️ Define Gender.
- it is the classification of people basing on their biological sex, that is, male and
female, masculine and feminine masculinity and femininity.
- a gender role is a set of societal norms dictating what types of behaviors are
generally considered acceptable, appropriate and desirable for a person based on their
actually perceived sex
- however, there are a myriad (numerous/a countless number of) exceptions and
variations
- cultures vary (differ), but some expectations are common
- there is a group of people, feminists, which supports equality between men and
women.
- they try to redefine gender roles arguing that most of the roles are a social construct
and that there is nothing different between a male and a female other than the
biological nature
- some gender roles are seen as oppressive and inaccurate, thus this moment seeks to
redefine them
⛷️ Outline the characteristics associated with a particular gender.

Feminist roles
- these are culturally acceptable behavior patterns of females, though they vary from
one culture to another
° gentleness
° empathy
° sensitivity
° humility
° peacefulness
° respectful
° being soft spoken
° weak
° comfortable in the kitchen at home
° smartness and always hygienic
° being motherly
° being emotional
° beauty
° intuition
° vulnerability
° patience
° radiance
° thoughtful
° forgiving
Masculine roles
Masculinity is also called boyhood or manhood, and is a set of attributes, behaviors
and roles generally associated with boys and some of these are:
° independence
° courage / bravery
° assertiveness
° robustness, strong physically
° virility / manliness (ability to procreate)
° functional
° aggressive
° rational and not emotional
° intelligence
° perseverance
NB: The above traits are not wholy nature traits but some are nurture and are a result
of how one has been socialized and integrated into the society
⛷️ Define ethics.

- an ethic is a moral principle that governs one's actions and behavior

- ethics look at how wrong and right an action is
- ethics inform one's conscience and help one to make right decisions
⛷️ Define values.
- a value is a principle of behavior or one's judgment of what is important in life
⛷️ Give examples of values.
Examples of values
° loyal
° dependable
° reliable
° committed
° open minded
° consistent
° honesty
° efficient
° fun loving
° adventurous
° creative
° positive
° passionate
° loving
° optimistic
Values can be grouped into four categories
> personal values - what an individual person likes
> core values - help people to know what is right and wrong, for example, belief in
God, in family, belief in honesty and so on
> corporate values - these are values held by companies, schools, universities, and
nations, for example, inspiring, motivating, educating, creating and honesty
> family values - these are the values that keep the family together, united, for
example, belief in God, veneration of ancestors and so on
- these vary from one family to another
⛷️ Define health.
- health is not merely the absence of diseases, but mental, physical, social, economic
and spiritual well-being of a person or community

- that is the totalitarian well-being of the body

- that is:
° physically free from harsh weather conditions, accidents, pathogens, malnutrition
and so on
° Socially free from rejection, stigmatisation, sickness of a loved one, death in the
family, domestic violence and abuse of any form (physical, emotional, religious etc),
and so on
° psychologically free from any form of abuse
A community can be healthy if people:

° dispose waste properly
° avoid behavioral patterns that can be harmful to others
° keep the community clean
° practice proper eating habits
° protect the weak and vulnerable members of the society
° avoid stigmatisation and abuse of other people
° have community care groups
° educate the community
⛷️ Define chronic conditions.

- these are persistent conditions or illnesses that can cause stress, anxiety, and anger
- hence it is important to seek help to regain control
- chronic diseases can neither be prevented by vaccines nor cured by medicines
Examples of chronic diseases are:

> arthritis
> cancer
> hypertension
> respiratory diseases like asthma
> cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease

> epilepsy
> obesity
> diabetes
> alzheimer's disease
> celebral palsy
> thyroid disease
> HIV/AIDS
⛷️ Define sexuality.
Sexuality is the capacity of human beings to have erotica experiences and responses
Types of sexuality
°Straight: such people are attracted by people who are of the opposite sex
° Gay : these are men who get attracted to another man for sexual intercourse
° Lesbian: these are women who get attracted to another woman for sexual intercourse
° Bisexual: these are the people who get attracted to both men and women for sexual
intercourse
° Asexual: the people are not really attracted to anyone for sexual intercourse
Disability
- it is understood as a physical, mental, cognitive or developmental condition that
impairs, interferes with or limits a person's ability to engage in typical daily activities
and interactions
⛷️ Causes of disability
- injuries at home and at work
- road accidents
- illness such as polio, diabetes, arthritis, stroke
- hereditary, for example, blindness

- avenging spirits
- cultural sacrilege, for instance, incestuous relationships
- aging
- complications from pregnancies
- masculoskeletal disorders resulting from the spine or joint disorders, fibromytid and
so on
- attack by wild animals such as, crocodiles, lions and snakes among others
Types of disability
° mobility and physical impairments - these include disabilities such as upper limbos
disability, lower limbos disability, manual dexterity and disability in coordination of
different organs of the body
° spinal code disability - spinal code injury can lead to life long disability
- this may occur due to severe accidents and may be complete or incomplete disability
° head injury / brain damage - there is Acquired Brain Injury, which is not hereditary
but occurs after birth due to several reasons
- Traumatic Brain Injury occurs due to several causes as well
° visual disability / impairment - this may be serious, for example, blindness or ocular
trauma
- these include scratched cornea, scratches on the sclera and other related eye
conditions such as dry eyes and corneal graft
° hearing disability - this may be partial or complete deafness

- these occur as accidents at birth or later in life due to several biological causes such
meningitis
- deaf people use sign language as a means of communication
° psychological disorder - these manifest as affective disorders of mood or feeling

states, either short or too long
° cognitive / or learning disability - it is present in people who are suffering from

dyslexia (difficulty in reading and writing) and various other learning difficulties and
speech disorders
° autism - affects verbal and nonverbal communication and social interactions

generally evident before the age of three
° Speech or language impairment
° Invisible impairment: this is not apparent (clear) to other people

Perceptions to disability (How people see or view disability)
° disabled people are usually stigmatized in the society
° disabled people usually suffer the problem of anger and denial
° there is also a problem of blaming disabled people as responsible for their disability
(hee akaromba ndosaka ave or ari zvaari)
° there is a conception (view) that disability is inability, whereas the opposite is true.
- people with disabilities must be given opportunities to explore their capabilities
° disability is viewed as a curse either from God, ancestors or witchcraft
° sometimes it is seen as a sign of a sinful life and thus as punishment for the sins
# Religion and natural environment.
⛷️ Define natural Environment.
- natural environment refers to all living and non-living things (air, water, land, and
natural resources, flora and fauna, human beings and their interrelationships) that
occur naturally on a particular region
⛷️ Identify components of the natural environment.
° Lithoshere (land)
- everything revolves around the land, for instance, food production, building of
houses, and having access to clean water
° Hydrosphere (water)
- no one can survive without water
- sources of water include rivers, dams, wells, lakes, boreholes and rain
° Atmosphere (air)
- not visible but very important, air supports life for both animals and plants
- air can be harnessed for energy and also for some industrial uses
° Vegetation (flora)
- this includes Indigenous trees, grasses and some indigenous crops
- it ensures the balance of the ecosystem, purifying the air and using excess carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere and providing animals with sufficient oxygen

° Wildlife (fauna)
- this includes indigenous animals such as elephants, hyenas foxes, pangolins, fish
eating eagles, and so on
- these ensure the food security of humanity
⛷️ Show how different religions use components of the natural environment.
° Water
- baptism, ceremonial cleaning
- Holy water
- exorcism
- blessing
- healing
- as a symbol of the profane (mixed with wine) Roman Catholic and Anglican
Churches
° Wildlife (animals)
- totemism (used as totems)
- healing (some animal oils are believed to you have healing properties)
- sacrifices
- ancestral significance (Mhondoro)
- messengers of the spiritual world (mhunzamusha)
° Vegetation (plants)
- healing (herbs)
- shrines, building material for churches; religious symbols (palm-tree - Christianity,
muhacha, Indigenous Religion)
⛷️ List causes of environmental damage.
° environmental degradation is the disintegration of the earth or the deterioration of

the environment through consumption of assets like air, water, and land as well as the
destruction of the environment and eradication of wildlife
° Causes of environmental damage are

- land disturbances
- pollution
- overpopulation
- landfills (disposing of garbage by burying it in the ground)
- deforestation
- mining
- drought

- tidal waves
- storms
- veld fires
- poaching
- urbanization
- farming activities
- over stocking
- erosion
Effects of environmental damage or degradation

- human ill-health due to toxic air pollutants
- respiratory problems such as asthma, pneumonia, Tuberculosis and so on
- loss of biodiversity (disturbs the balance of the ecosystem)
- ozone layer depletion (the environment protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet
rays)
- loss of tourism industry
- loss of foreign currency
How do taboos in Indigenous Religion help preserve the environment
Pane miti isingatemwe, mhuka dzisingadyiwe, masango asingatemwe miti, masango

asingavhimwe mhuka, madziva asingaraurwi hove, matsime asingacherwe mvura uine
midziyo ine rota or dota, matsime asingasvikiwe uisne sipo, nzvimbo dzisingaitirwe
tsvina and so on
⛷️ Define enterprise.
- enterprise is defined as any form of business that will earn wealth (money)
⛷️ List examples of enterprise.

- Types of enterprise
° Micro enterprise
° Macro enterprise
° Medium enterprise
⛷️ Give enterprise skills necessary for employment creation.
- music
- sport
- art

- dance
- pottery
- poetry
- theater
- filming
- basketry
- weaving
- upholstery and joinary
⛷️ Define technology.
- Technology is the science of craft which is the collection of techniques, skills,
methods and processes used in the production of goods and services or the
accomplishment of objectives such as scientific investigation
- it is the knowledge of techniques and processes which can be embedded in machines,
computers, devices and factories
- the use of technology began with the conversion of natural resources into simple
tools beginning with the invention and control of fire and the emergence of basic tools
#Religion Rights and Responsibility.
⛷️ Define rights.
- rights are legal, social or ethical principles of freedom or enlightenment
- they are fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to
people according to a legal system, social convention or ethical theory
- laws are very important in the society as they govern human conduct
⛷️ List basic rights.

- right to life
- right to human dignity
- right to education
- right to health
- access to basic needs such as food and shelter
- right to freedom of worship and association
- access to natural resources
- access to information
⛷️ Define responsibilities.
⛷️ Give different social responsibilities.

- safeguarding heritage
- defending sovereignty of the nation

- upholding values
- participating in voluntary community activities such as gully reclamation, clean up,
tree planting campaigns and so on
⛷️ Religion and Conflict Management

⛷️ Define conflict.
- conflict is a series of disagreements or arguments
- it is a struggle or opposition
⛷️ Identify causes of conflict.

- personality differences
- noncompliance with rules and practices
- misunderstandings
- competition
- conflict over resources
- differences in religious beliefs
- different personal values and interests
- unpredictable policies
- conflicting roles
- limited resources
⛷️ Religion and the Liberation Struggle.
⛷️ Narrate the historical background of the Liberation Struggle.
- The first Chimurenga occurred in 1896-1897, inspired by spirit mediums Mbuya

Nehanda, Chaminuka and Kaguvi, but the revolution was put off when the leaders
were hanged
- Mbuya Nehanda's last Prophetic words before her death, "My bones shall rise again"
greatly influence the struggle for land by the Shona and the Ndebele against white
settlers
⛷️ Identify forms of Liberation Struggle.

a) Early peasant struggles (1900-1923)
- there was passive resistance against
- Europeans began to take up land through their laws and they were engaged in
farming
- Africans were also forced to surrender food, cattle and land
- Africans were forced to be wage workers
- some forms of resistance shown by Africans included disappearance and
collaboration
- African males ran away from being captured and being forced to work in the fields
under forced labor or chibharo
- there were also isolated cases when Africans raided the native commissioner's

offices and took guns

- they also organized strikes at the mines and farms, or sometimes refused to be
resettled
- these resistances were generally put down by the colonial administration
b) Resistance through unions, associations, and societies (1923-1925)

- this was after World War 1
- this form of resistance was more organized than the first one
- the center of resistance moved from rural to mining areas
- this resistance took regional dimensions - Africans from Malawi, South Africa and
Zimbabwe began to share their plight
- African elites wanted to adopt the white system of administration, they formed the
Rhodesia Bantu Voters Association
- later, the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress was formed as the first
political party for the blacks
- workers' unions were also formed, such as the Rhodesia Industrial Commercial
Workers Union with Masotsha Ndlovu, Mpamba and several other Africans as leaders
c) The struggle for 'one man one vote' (1946-1956)

- they demanded for a government democratically elected
- political parties such as African National Congress (ANC), Zimbabwe African
People Union (ZAPU), the National Democratic Party (NDP), and others were formed
- nationalist leaders such as Joshua Nkomo, Robert Mugabe, Josiah Tongogara,
Herbert Chitepo and many others also emerged
d) The armed struggle (1966-1980)
- African nationalist leaders decided to take up arms against the Rhodesian Front, a
government that white minority dominated and ruled with an iron fist
- young men were sent out for training and arms were smuggled into the country
- Ghana and Tanzania were the first countries to provide training bases
- at first operation was underground but soon there was a full scale Civil War against
the white controlled government
⛷️ Explain the causes of the Liberation Struggle.

- forced labor
- natural disasters like droughts, rinder pests,
- land alienation
- rise of nationalism
- influence of World War 1
- creation of reserves
- settler brutality
- forced taxation
- abuse of women by the police and settlers
- traditional chiefs authority was reduced
- general loss of independence by Africans

- spirit mediums encouraged Africans to fight against settlers
⛷️ Identify Religious Groups involved in the Liberation Struggle.

° Indigenous Religion
° Christianity
⛷️ Explain the involvement of the Indigenous Religion in the Liberation Struggle.
- led the struggle against the white settlers, for example, Charwe who was possessed
by the spirit of Mbuya Nehanda
- gave a religious approval to the uprisings
- convinced villagers that God expected all whites to be killed
- shrines, such as Matopo were centres of operations for the Africans
- they gave courage, morale and confidence to the African fighters as they guaranteed
success and spread the belief that God would protect them
- the religious leaders helped to link the Mashonaland - Ndebele rising and fostered
unity among the fighter, for Mukwati operated both in Matopo and Mashonaland
- he even settled in chief Mashayamombe's kraal after Ndaba zikaMambo base
- they organized people against the whites, for example, Mr Pollard, native
commissioner of Mazoe was murdered under the instruction of Nehanda
- the spirit mediums supplied protective medicine
-they sent agents to infiltrate European farms, mines and forts
- the second Chimurenga still cherished the message of Nehanda / the need to return
the land to the children of Africa
⛷️ Explain the involvement of the Christianity (missionaries) in the Liberation

Struggle.
- there were missionaries who supported the guerrillas
- they provided guerrillas with food, intelligent information, medicine and
transportation of guns and ammunition
- many guerrillas were educated at mission schools and were known to the
missionaries
- these missionaries did not take the guerrillas as terrorists
- some of the missionaries wrote to the international community exposing the white
settler regime
- missionaries educated the black majority in institutions such as St Augustine'S
Penhalonga, Kutama Mission, Inyathi, St Ignatius and Assisi Mission
- these schools became the breeding ground for nationalist movements, and prominent
figures such as Herbert Chitepo, Robert Mugabe, Edgar Tekere, Edson Zvobgo and
many others learnt in these institutions
#Symbolism

⛷️ Define the word symbol.

- a symbol is anything that represents or stands for something
- it can be a mark, sign or a word that indicates, signifies or is understood as
representing an idea, object or relationship
⛷️ Identify symbols used in different religions.
Symbols in Christianity
° the cross
° the crucifix
° the dove
° the vine
° the lamp
° the cherub
° smoke
° incense
° water
° oil
° the eagle
° the bleading heart
° the alpa and the omega
° candles
° bread
° wine
° the cup / chalice
° the altar

° the thurible
° thurifer
Symbols in Indigenous Religion
° fire
- smoke
- animal oils
- paintings
- beads
- knobkerries
- drums
- ceremonial stools
- crowns
⛷️ Describe the significance of the symbols to believers.

Uses of symbols
-rites of passage
- baptism
- burial
- initiation
- marriage ceremonies
- punishment and repentance ceremonies
- love proposals
- prayers and invocations
- ritual performances
- cleansing and so on

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Family and Religious Studies: Made Simple Form One

⛷️ Identify /name the types of religion.

- monotheistic and polytheistic religions

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

⛷️ List /Identify the characteristics of world religion.

⛷️ Trace /discuss the history and development of Indigenous Religion.

-What is African Indigenous Religion?

⛷️ Characteristics of African Indigenous Religion

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

⛷️ List or state the names of the Supreme Being.

⛷️ Explain the names of the Supreme Being in Indigenous Religion.

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

⛷️ Discuss the beliefs in the Supreme Being in Indigenous Religion.

⛷️ Identify the attributes of the Supreme Being.

⛷️ Describe the importance of sacred places in IR.

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

- trees, eg Muhacha/muchakata, Muzhanje/mushuku, Muuyu, Musasa

> Discuss how believers look after these places.

- Judaism is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that was founded by Moses though it

*⛷️Narrate the historical background of Judaism.*

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

- he sent him to Egypt to free the Israelites

*⛷️Key Jewish beliefs*

*⛷️The Ten Commandments as written in the Torah are:*

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

*Groups of Jewish people who have a different understanding of the

*Jewish sacred writings include the following:

The TALMUD is also an important collection of Jewish writings.

*⛷️Give the names of the Supreme Being in Judaism.*

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

- Tzevaot: Lord of Hosts

*⛷️Identify the attributes of the Supreme Being in Judaism.

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

2. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

4. Shemini Atzeret/Simcha Torah

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

- this was the day Jews formally became a nation

10. The Tisha B'Av

⛷️ Narrate the historical background of Christianity.

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

- believers are saved by faith in Jesus Christ

° Jesus taught in parables

The Early Christian Church

° Traditions in the early church included:

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

- The Memorial of the Last Supper

°Constantine and the Edict of Milan 313 AD

The Council of Nicea

The relationship between the Father and the Son

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

The Canon of the New Testament (397 AD)

Factors that led to the spread of Christianity

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

Key beliefs in Christianity

Christian celebrations and holidays

The attributes of the Supreme Being in Christianity

Chademuwiri Aprose: Called To Teach Freedom Through Education

- God is omnibenevolent: God is goodness itself

⛷️Narrate the historical background of Judaism.

⛷️Key Jewish beliefs

⛷️The Ten Commandments as written in the Torah are:

⛷️Give the names of the Supreme Being in Judaism.