Basic 5 · Religious and Moral Education · God the Creator
Caring for Our God-Given Form and Colour
In this topic you will explain why we should accept and care for the body, form and skin colour that God gave us.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain why our form and colour are gifts from God
- Describe dangers of changing the body harmfully, such as skin bleaching
- State ways to care for the body
What you already know
- Every person is special
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
- God the Creator
- Indicator
- B5.1.1.1.3 – Mention why individuals should maintain their God-given gifts of form and color
Introduction
Some people use creams to make their skin lighter or try harmful ways to change how they look. Religions teach that our form and colour are gifts from God, and we should be proud of them and care for them.
1. Our Form and Colour Are Gifts
People have different heights, body shapes, hair types and skin colours. The Qur'an says that God made people into nations and tribes "so that you may know one another" (Qur'an 49:13), and that the best person is the one who is most righteous, not the one with a particular colour. The Bible teaches that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Traditional Religion teaches that God shapes each person before birth and that a person's appearance is part of their destiny.
2. Harmful Practices
| Practice | Danger |
|---|---|
| skin bleaching | burns, rashes, skin cancer, thin skin that heals slowly, damage to kidneys from mercury |
| using unapproved drugs to change body shape | damage to the heart, liver and kidneys |
| tattoos with unsterile needles | infections such as hepatitis and HIV |
| tight hair chemicals used wrongly | scalp burns and hair loss |
| eating disorders (starving to be thin) | weakness, illness and even death |
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana has warned against creams containing hydroquinone and mercury. Many people who bleach their skin regret it because the damage cannot always be reversed.
3. How to Care for the Body
- Bathe at least twice a day with soap and clean water.
- Eat a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables.
- Drink enough clean water.
- Exercise regularly and get enough sleep.
- Use only safe, approved products on the skin.
- Avoid drugs, alcohol and smoking.
4. Accepting Ourselves
Accepting how God made you builds confidence. Do not compare yourself with images on television or social media, which are often edited. Respect people of all colours and body types. Teasing someone about their colour, height or weight is wrong and hurtful.
New words
- form
- The shape and features of the body.
- complexion
- The natural colour of the skin.
- bleaching
- Using chemicals to lighten the skin.
- self-acceptance
- Being happy with who you are.
- temple
- A holy place where God is honoured.
- FDA
- Food and Drugs Authority, which checks product safety in Ghana.
Summary
- Our form and colour are gifts from God.
- Skin bleaching and other harmful practices damage the body.
- We should keep our bodies clean, healthy and safe.
- Respect people of all colours and body types.
Class activity: Healthy Body Campaign
- Make a poster titled "Love the Skin You Are In".
- Include three dangers of bleaching and three ways to care for the body.
- Present it at assembly.
You need: Hand mirror, Printed photographs of diverse Ghanaian children, Bible, Qur’an
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which is a harmful practice?
- A. Skin bleaching
- B. Bathing daily
- C. Eating fruits
- D. Exercising
Show answer
Answer: Skin bleachingIt damages the skin.2. Which verse calls the body a temple of the Holy Spirit?
- A. 1 Corinthians 6:19
- B. Psalm 23:1
- C. John 3:16
- D. Genesis 2:7
Show answer
Answer: 1 Corinthians 6:19So we must care for it.3. According to Qur'an 49:13, the best person is the one who is…
- A. most righteous
- B. richest
- C. tallest
- D. lightest in colour
Show answer
Answer: most righteousColour does not matter.4. Our skin colour is a gift from God.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueAll three religions teach this.5. Bleaching creams are always safe.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseMany contain harmful chemicals.6. The natural colour of the skin is the ______.
Show answer
Answer: complexionIt differs from person to person.7. State two dangers of skin bleaching.
Show answer
Answer: Skin cancer and burns (or thin skin, kidney damage).Any two.8. Why should we not compare ourselves with pictures on social media?
Show answer
Answer: They are often edited and unreal; comparing can make us unhappy and lead to harmful choices.Self-acceptance.
Homework
- Write five ways you will care for your body this week.