Introduction to Christian Religious Education

Christian Religious Education (CRE) is the study of God’s self-revelation to people through the Bible. It outlines the principles that guide human beings to accept spiritual truth as per the teaching of the scriptures. In Secondary school, CRE incorporates the study of the Old Testament, New Testament, African Religious Heritage and Contemporary Christian Living.

CRE is studied in the school syllabus because of the following reasons.

• It enables people to relate well by teaching about love and peace, which creates unity among humankind.
• It improves one’s knowledge and understanding of the Bible, hence promoting faith in God.
• It promotes the development of one’s moral, intellectual and physical growth.
• It is essential in shaping one to have positive values and attitudes for modern world’s challenges.
• It helps one to know how he or she came into existence, for example, through the creation story.
• It promotes national unity through teachings such as “we are created in the image of God” (irrespective of our tribes or races).
• It provides solutions to questions science cannot answer, for example, what happens after death.
• Christianity promotes virtues that are needed for economic development such as hard work, honesty, kindness.
• It makes one aware of other nations hence promoting international cooperation.
• It encourages social justice and equality by teaching that all people are children of God.
• It integrates Christian values with our rich and varied cultures.
• The study of CRE may lead one into careers or professions making one to earn a living.
• The study of CRE makes one to conserve and appreciate the environment as God’s creation.