Basic 8 · Religious and Moral Education · Moral Values of Creation Stories
Moral Values in Creation Stories
In this topic you will identify and explain the moral values taught by the Christian, Islamic and traditional accounts of creation, and apply them in daily life.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Identify moral values in the Christian creation stories
- Identify moral values in the Islamic creation stories
- Apply these values to care for people and the environment
What you already know
- Creation stories of the three main religions
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- God’s Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- Moral Values of Creation Stories
- Indicator
- B8.1.1.1.2 – Identify and explain the moral values in each of the creation stories
Introduction
Religious stories do more than describe the past. They teach us how to live today.
1. Stewardship
Stewardship: Looking after something that belongs to someone else.
In Genesis, God puts human beings in charge of the earth and places Adam in the garden to work it and take care of it. Christians take this to mean that the earth does not belong to people. It belongs to God, and we are stewards. A good steward looks after what has been entrusted to him or her. For this reason, many Christians think that illegal mining, which poisons rivers, and bush burning, which destroys farms, go against God's purpose for the earth.
2. Other Values in the Stories
| Value | Where it appears | How to apply it |
|---|---|---|
| respect for human life | humans made in God's image | avoid insults, bullying and violence |
| obedience | God's command in Eden | follow good rules and instructions |
| honesty | Adam and Eve hide and blame others | own up to your mistakes |
| hard work | Adam works in the garden | do your duties with care |
| rest | God rests on day seven | balance work with rest |
| marriage and family | Adam and Eve become one | respect the family |
3. Equal Worth
If every person is made in God's image, then no one is worthless. Christians use this teaching to oppose discrimination against people on grounds of ethnic group, disability or poverty. In a Ghanaian classroom, this could mean not laughing at a classmate's accent and including learners with disabilities in games. Equal worth also means that boys and girls deserve the same respect and opportunities.
4. Responsibility for Our Choices
The story of Adam and Eve shows that freedom and responsibility go together. Learners make choices every day: to tell the truth or lie, to help or ignore, to study or waste time. The story teaches that good choices lead to peace, while bad ones damage relationships. It also gives hope, since God's mercy continues after failure. When you have done wrong, you can admit it, say sorry and begin again.
New words
- stewardship
- Looking after something for its owner.
- obedience
- Following rules or commands.
- discrimination
- Treating people unfairly because of who they are.
- environment
- The natural world around us.
Summary
- Christian creation stories teach stewardship of the earth.
- They also teach the equal worth of all people.
- Freedom comes with responsibility, and God's mercy gives hope.
Class activity: Stewardship Check
- Walk round the school compound and list environmental problems.
- Suggest a practical solution for each one.
- Carry out one solution as a 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. Looking after something for its owner is…
- A. stewardship
- B. pride
- C. laziness
- D. rest
Show answer
Answer: stewardshipCare.2. Which action goes against stewardship?
- A. burning bushes carelessly
- B. planting trees
- C. cleaning gutters
- D. saving water
Show answer
Answer: burning bushes carelesslyHarm.3. The creation story teaches that every person has worth.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueImage of God.4. Treating people unfairly because of who they are is ______.
Show answer
Answer: discriminationUnfair treatment.5. State two values from the story of Adam and Eve.
Show answer
Answer: Obedience and honesty, or responsibility.Any two.6. Explain how stewardship applies to illegal mining in Ghana.
Show answer
Answer: The earth belongs to God, so polluting rivers and destroying land fails in the duty to care for it.Application.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- God’s Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- Moral Values of Creation Stories
- Indicator
- B8.1.1.1.2 – Identify and explain the moral values in each of the creation stories
Introduction
The Islamic account of creation also has a lot to teach about how a person should behave.
1. Being a Good Khalifah
The Qur'an calls human beings khalifah, or caretakers on earth. This means that the earth is a trust, known in Arabic as amanah. Muslims believe that on the Day of Judgement people will answer for how they treated this trust. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that planting a tree is a charity when people or animals eat from it. He also warned against wasting water, even when washing beside a flowing river. Teachings such as these show that care for the environment is a religious duty in Islam.
2. Other Values in the Stories
| Value | Where it appears | How to apply it |
|---|---|---|
| humility | Iblis is condemned for pride | do not look down on others |
| obedience | the angels obey Allah | follow what is right |
| repentance | Adam and Hawwa ask forgiveness | apologise and change |
| knowledge | Adam learns the names | study diligently |
| gratitude | Allah's many signs | give thanks for what you have |
3. Humility and the Danger of Pride
Iblis thought that being made of fire made him better than Adam. His sin was to judge worth by origin, and people today do the same when they look down on others because of family, tribe, wealth or skin colour. Islam teaches that the best person in the sight of Allah is the one with the most piety (Surah 49:13). In a school, pride may appear as bullying, or refusing to accept correction. Humility means knowing your strengths and your weaknesses, and treating everyone with respect.
4. Values Shared by All Three Traditions
When we put the stories side by side, shared values appear. All three traditions teach respect for the Supreme Being, care for the earth, the worth of people and the need to do right. ATR adds strong respect for the land, for ancestors and for community. Because of this common ground, leaders of different faiths in Ghana can work together on peace, health and the environment. The National Peace Council, for example, brings people together to help resolve conflicts.
New words
- amanah
- A trust given by Allah.
- humility
- Having a modest view of yourself.
- gratitude
- Being thankful.
- piety
- Devotion to God and doing right.
Summary
- Muslims see the earth as a trust for which they must answer.
- The story of Iblis warns against pride.
- The three traditions share values of respect, care and doing right.
Class activity: Values Across Faiths
- Draw three overlapping circles for the three religions.
- Write shared values in the middle.
- Present your diagram to 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. The Arabic word for a trust is…
- A. amanah
- B. hajj
- C. imam
- D. surah
Show answer
Answer: amanahTrust.2. Which sin does the story of Iblis warn against?
- A. pride
- B. hunger
- C. sleep
- D. poverty
Show answer
Answer: prideRefusal to bow.3. Islam teaches care for the environment.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueKhalifah.4. Being thankful is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: gratitudeThanks.5. Give one Islamic teaching on the environment.
Show answer
Answer: Planting a tree is a charity, or water must not be wasted.Hadith.6. Explain two values all three traditions share.
Show answer
Answer: Respect for the Supreme Being and care for the earth, shown in stewardship, khalifah and respect for land.Shared values.
Homework
- Write about one moral value from a creation story and how you will practise it.