Basic 7 · Religious and Moral Education · Attributes of God
Showing God's Attributes in Our Lives
In this topic you will describe how people can reflect the attributes of God, such as love, mercy, justice and truthfulness, in their daily lives at home, in school and in the community.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain why believers should reflect God's attributes
- Describe ways of showing God's attributes in personal life
- Apply God's attributes at home, in school and in the community
What you already know
- The attributes of God in the three religions
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- God
- Sub-strand
- Attributes of God
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.1.2 – Describe ways in which you demonstrate attributes of God in your life
Introduction
Christians teach that people are made in God's image, Muslims teach that humans should reflect Allah's beautiful names in their character, and traditional believers teach that good behaviour pleases God and the ancestors. Therefore, we should show God's qualities in how we live.
1. Why Reflect God's Attributes?
- Humans are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27).
- Muslims are encouraged to develop good character (akhlaq) like the qualities of Allah.
- Good conduct brings blessings, peace and respect in traditional belief.
- It makes families and communities happy and peaceful.
2. Attributes We Can Show
| Attribute of God | How we show it |
|---|---|
| love | caring for family, friends and strangers |
| mercy | forgiving those who offend us |
| justice | treating everyone fairly; not cheating |
| truthfulness | always telling the truth |
| generosity | sharing what we have with the needy |
| patience | waiting calmly and not losing our temper |
| faithfulness | keeping promises |
3. Examples from Scripture
Jesus taught, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. These teachings call believers to copy God's qualities.
4. Personal Examples
A learner shows love by helping a sick classmate catch up on notes. He shows mercy by forgiving a friend who broke his pen. She shows justice by sharing groundnuts equally with her siblings. He shows truthfulness by admitting he did not do his homework instead of lying.
5. Benefits of Reflecting God's Attributes
When we reflect God's attributes, we gain trust and respect from others, our relationships become stronger, and there is less quarrelling at home and in school. Teachers and parents can rely on truthful and faithful learners. Communities with many honest and generous people are safer and more peaceful. Most importantly, believers say that living this way pleases God and brings inner peace.
6. Self-Examination
Each evening, ask yourself a few questions. Was I truthful today? Did I treat others fairly? Did I forgive someone who hurt me? Did I help anyone in need? Many religious people examine themselves in this way during prayer. It helps them notice where they have fallen short and resolve to do better tomorrow.
New words
- image of God
- The belief that humans share some of God's qualities.
- akhlaq
- Good character and manners in Islam.
- mercy
- Kindness and forgiveness shown to someone.
- faithfulness
- Keeping promises and being loyal.
Summary
- Believers should reflect God's attributes because humans are made to share His qualities.
- We can show love, mercy, justice, truthfulness, generosity, patience and faithfulness.
- Scriptures teach believers to copy God's qualities in daily life.
Class activity: Attribute Role Play
- Choose one attribute of God.
- Act out a short scene showing a learner demonstrating it.
- Let the class guess the attribute.
You need: Bible, Qur'an, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian traditional shrine
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Forgiving a friend who offends you shows…
- A. mercy
- B. anger
- C. pride
- D. greed
Show answer
Answer: mercyKindness.2. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" is from…
- A. Luke 6:36
- B. Genesis 1:1
- C. Psalm 23:1
- D. John 3:16
Show answer
Answer: Luke 6:36Jesus' teaching.3. Sharing food equally with siblings shows justice.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueFairness.4. Good character and manners in Islam are called ______.
Show answer
Answer: akhlaqCharacter.5. Give three ways a learner can show God's attributes at school.
Show answer
Answer: Helping classmates, telling the truth, sharing fairly (or forgiving, being patient).Any three.6. Why should believers reflect God's attributes?
Show answer
Answer: Because they are made in God's image or called to good character, and it brings peace, blessing and respect.Religious reasons.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- His Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- Attributes of God
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.1.2 – Describe ways in which you demonstrate attributes of God in your life
Introduction
Our homes, schools and communities become better places when people live out love, honesty, fairness and care. These are practical ways of showing God's attributes.
1. At Home
- Obey and respect parents and elders.
- Help with house chores without being forced.
- Care for younger siblings and sick family members.
- Share food and belongings fairly.
- Settle quarrels peacefully.
2. In School
| Attribute | Example |
|---|---|
| love | welcoming new learners and helping them settle |
| honesty | not cheating in examinations |
| justice | prefects treating all learners fairly |
| care | keeping the classroom and compound clean |
| forgiveness | not bearing grudges after a quarrel |
3. In the Community
In the community, people show God's attributes by helping the poor, visiting the sick, comforting the bereaved, taking part in communal labour, respecting other people's religions and caring for the environment. During floods or fires, many churches, mosques and traditional leaders collect food and clothes for victims. This is love and generosity in action.
4. Challenges
Sometimes it is hard to show God's attributes. Friends may pressure us to cheat, people may insult us, or we may be tempted to keep things for ourselves. Prayer, good friends, the advice of parents and teachers, and remembering the teachings of our religion help us to overcome these challenges.
5. Role Models
Many people in Ghana are known for living out these qualities, such as religious leaders who promote peace between faiths, nurses who care for patients with patience, and ordinary people who return lost items. Their examples encourage us to do the same.
6. A Story of Kindness
When Ama's classmate, Fuseina, lost her mother, Ama visited her every evening for a week, helped her copy notes and shared her lunch with her. Ama is a Christian and Fuseina is a Muslim, but Ama said, "God is love, so I must love my friend." Fuseina's father later thanked Ama's family and said, "Allah is the Most Merciful, and you have shown us mercy." Their friendship shows how God's attributes can unite people of different faiths.
New words
- communal labour
- Community members working together for the common good.
- bereaved
- People mourning someone who has died.
- grudge
- A lasting feeling of anger towards someone.
- role model
- A person whose behaviour others copy.
Summary
- At home, we show God's attributes through obedience, help, care and fairness.
- In school and the community, honesty, justice, generosity and forgiveness reflect God's qualities.
- Prayer, good friends and role models help us overcome challenges.
Class activity: Kindness Week
- Plan one act of kindness at home, in school and in the community for a week.
- Record each act in a journal.
- Share your experiences with the class.
You need: Bible, Qur'an, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian traditional shrine
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Not cheating in examinations shows…
- A. honesty
- B. laziness
- C. greed
- D. pride
Show answer
Answer: honestyTruthfulness.2. Comforting the bereaved shows…
- A. love and care
- B. anger
- C. jealousy
- D. pride
Show answer
Answer: love and careCompassion.3. Respecting other people's religions reflects God's love.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueTolerance.4. A person whose behaviour others copy is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: role modelExample.5. State three ways of showing God's attributes in the community.
Show answer
Answer: Helping the poor, visiting the sick, taking part in communal labour (or caring for the environment).Any three.6. Describe one challenge to showing God's attributes and how to overcome it.
Show answer
Answer: Peer pressure to cheat; overcome by prayer, good friends and remembering religious teaching.Challenge and solution.
Homework
- Write a paragraph about a person in your community who shows God's attributes.