Basic 3 · Religious and Moral Education · Purpose of God’s Creation
Why God Created Humankind
In this topic you will learn what the holy books say about the purpose of human beings.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- State the purposes of humankind from the holy books
- Explain each purpose
- Apply the purposes to daily life
What you already know
- Why God created human beings (OWOP)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- God’s Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- Purpose of God’s Creation
- Indicator
- B3.1.3.1.1 – Explain the purpose of God’s creation of humankind
Introduction
The Bible says God made people in His own image. The Qur'an says God created people to worship Him. Traditional religion teaches that people should live in harmony with God, ancestors and nature.
1. Purposes in the Holy Books
| Source | Teaching |
|---|---|
| Bible | God made people in His image to rule over and care for the earth (Genesis 1:26–28). |
| Qur'an | "I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me." (Qur'an 51:56) |
| Traditional Religion | people should respect God, the ancestors and nature and live in harmony. |
2. Living Our Purpose
- worship God daily
- care for God's creation
- love and serve others
New words
- image
- Likeness.
- worship
- To show love and respect to God.
- harmony
- Living together peacefully.
- serve
- To help others.
Summary
- The Bible says people are made in God's image to care for the earth.
- The Qur'an says people were created to worship God.
- Traditional religion teaches harmony with God, ancestors and nature.
Class activity: Creation Story Cards
- Look at the creation-story picture cards.
- Read what the Bible and Qur'an say about people.
- Act out one way to live God's purpose.
You need: Bible, Qur’an, Printed creation-story picture cards, Printed photographs of Ghanaian children
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. According to Genesis, people are made in God's…
- A. Image
- B. House
- C. Garden
- D. Shadow
Show answer
Answer: ImageGenesis 1:27.2. Which Qur'an verse says people were created to worship God?
- A. Qur'an 51:56
- B. Qur'an 1:1
- C. Qur'an 112:1
- D. Qur'an 2:1
Show answer
Answer: Qur'an 51:56That is the verse.3. Traditional religion teaches harmony with nature.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TruePeople should respect nature.4. God created people to destroy the earth.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalsePeople should care for it.5. Living together peacefully is ______.
Show answer
Answer: harmonyThat is harmony.6. Write two purposes of humankind.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: worship God, care for creation, love and serve others.These are from the holy books.
Homework
- Write one way you will worship God and one way you will serve others this week.