Basic 6 · Religious and Moral Education · God the Creator
Reflecting God's Attributes in Our Lives
In this topic you will describe how believers respond to God's attributes and how people can reflect God's good qualities in daily life.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain how God's attributes influence worship
- Describe how people can reflect God's qualities
- Apply these qualities in school and at home
What you already know
- Attributes of God
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- God’s Creation And Attributes
- Sub-strand
- God the Creator
- Indicator
- B6.1.1.1.1 – Describe the nature of God through His attributes
Introduction
If God is just, people should be fair. If God is loving, people should be kind. Believers try to reflect God's good qualities in how they treat others.
1. Responding to God's Attributes in Worship
| Attribute | Response in worship |
|---|---|
| Creator | praise and thanksgiving for creation |
| holy | reverence, cleanliness, confession of wrongdoing |
| provider | prayers of request and thanksgiving; giving offerings |
| omnipotent | trust in God during difficulties |
| merciful | asking for forgiveness |
2. Reflecting God's Qualities
Human beings cannot be all-powerful or everywhere, but they can show some of God's moral qualities. Christianity teaches that people are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). Islam teaches that humans are Allah's representatives (khalifah) on earth. Traditional Religion teaches that every person carries a part of God (the okra or soul).
| God's quality | How a pupil can reflect it |
|---|---|
| love | caring for a sick classmate |
| justice | being fair when sharing or judging |
| mercy | forgiving someone who hurt you |
| truthfulness | telling the truth even when it is hard |
| generosity | sharing food, books and time |
| faithfulness | keeping promises |
3. Stories of Example
In the Bible, Joseph forgave his brothers who sold him into slavery and provided food for them during a famine (Genesis 45). Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forgave the people of Makkah who had persecuted him when he returned victorious. These examples show mercy and generosity like God's.
4. Why It Matters
When people reflect God's qualities, families are peaceful, schools are safe and communities trust each other. When people ignore these qualities, there is cheating, violence and quarrels. Religion is not only about worship; it is also about how we live.
Every religion warns against hypocrisy, which means praying or worshipping in public but behaving badly in private. Jesus criticised those who prayed loudly to be seen by others (Matthew 6:5). The Prophet taught that the best people are those with the best character. True religion is shown in honesty, kindness and fairness every day.
New words
- reflect
- To show or mirror a quality.
- image of God
- Having qualities that resemble God.
- khalifah
- An Arabic word for representative or steward.
- conduct
- The way a person behaves.
- persecute
- To treat someone cruelly because of their beliefs.
- moral
- Concerning right and wrong behaviour.
Summary
- God's attributes shape how believers worship.
- People can reflect God's love, justice, mercy, truthfulness and generosity.
- Joseph and Prophet Muhammad are examples of mercy and generosity.
- Reflecting God's qualities brings peace in society.
Class activity: Quality Pledge
- Choose one of God's qualities you want to show more.
- Write three things you will do this week to show it.
- Report back at the end of the week.
You need: Bible, Qur’an, Printed Ghanaian moral-scenario cards, Manila attribute-and-action cards
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Forgiving someone reflects God's…
- A. mercy
- B. anger
- C. pride
- D. power
Show answer
Answer: mercyForgiveness is mercy.2. Who forgave his brothers who sold him?
- A. Joseph
- B. Moses
- C. David
- D. Jonah
Show answer
Answer: JosephGenesis 45.3. Being fair when sharing reflects God's…
- A. justice
- B. holiness
- C. eternity
- D. omnipresence
Show answer
Answer: justiceFairness.4. Religion is also about how we behave.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueNot only worship.5. Humans can be omnipresent like God.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseOnly God is everywhere.6. Islam teaches humans are Allah's ______ on earth.
Show answer
Answer: khalifah (representatives)Stewards.7. Give three ways a pupil can reflect God's qualities.
Show answer
Answer: Tell the truth, share with others, forgive.Any three.8. Why does reflecting God's qualities bring peace to a community?
Show answer
Answer: People treat each other fairly and kindly, so there is trust and fewer quarrels.Social harmony.
Homework
- Write about a person in your community who shows one of God's qualities.