KNEC KCSE Christian Religious Education Paper 1 Question Paper / 2015 KCSE Meru South Form 4 Joint Examination

a) Outline the teachings about human beings from the biblical creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2
(8 marks)
• Human beings are created in the image and likeness of god.
• They have the breath of life from God.
• They are blessed by God.
• Human beings are to procreate/multiply through marriage
• They have been given authority /dominion over God’s creation
• Human beings are to use the other creation for their benefit.
• Human beings are to take care of the creation/till the land/work.
• They have the ability to think /reason /make choices/decisions in their lives.
• They have been given specific place to stay/Garden of Eden
• Man and woman are to compliment/provide companionship for each other.
• Human beings communicate/fellowship with God.
• Human beings are God’s creation/male and female.
• The woman is created out of the man’s rib.
• Human beings are special/the greatest of God’s creation. 4×2=8mks
b) Give six similarities between the Traditional African view of evil and the biblical concept of sin.(6 marks)
• In both cases God is viewed as holy, pure and His wish for human being is good/God did not create evil.
• In both cases evil originated from the disobedience of human beings.
• In both cases evil results in suffering and hardships.
• In both cases evil destroys the relationship between God and human beings.
• In both cases evil destroys the relationship among human beings.
• In both cases evil leads to death.
• In both cases evil leads to curse on the offender.
• In both cases evil is caused by external forces to overcome evil.
• In both cases God is the guardian of mortality, law and order, which are tools against evil.
• In both cases human beings have the ability to overcome evil. (6×1=6 mks)
c) Mention seven ways in which wrong doers are punished in the Traditional African society.
(7marks)
• Members of the communities especially children can be denied food for sometime so as not to repeat wrong.
• Beating/whipping/canning/pinching for children when they disobey older people/wife beating if wives disobey the
husband.
• Payment of fine in form of bull/goat/sheep/beer as compensation to the clan/family/parents.
• Defaming a person through songs that are composed to ridicule him/her.
• By being given unpleasant nicknames which reflected the wrong the person has done.
• Sometimes relatives refuse to name their children after errant members.
• An errant member can be summoned to appear before the council of elders /age group/clan elders.
• An errant member can be served with banning orders/cannot attend /join feasts, initiation ceremonies etc.
• Disowning an individual who commits a crime that is embarrassing to the relatives/parents/age mates
• Somebody can be osatrracised by the family/clan(they go to seek refuge in another community until the time of ostracisation is over. 7×1=7mks

a) Outline seven promises that God gave to Abraham. (7 marks)
• God would make Abraham’s name great/famous
• Abraham would receive personal blessings /God will bless Abraham.
• Abraham would be a source of blessings to other nations.
• God would bless those who bless Abraham/curse those who curse him/protect him.
• He would give Abraham many descendants /he would have a great nation.
• God would give land to Abraham’s descendants
• God give Abraham long life/he would die in peace.

• Kings will come from Abraham’s descendants.
• God would give Abraham a son /heir. 7×1-=7mks
b) Explain the importance of Gods covenant with Abraham (8 marks)
• God established a personal relationship with Abraham /Abraham became God’s friend.
• It showed that Abraham had faith /trust in God.
• It demonstrated Abraham’s obedience to God.
• Abraham was assured of God’s protection.
• God revealed to Abraham that he would have a son as his heir/many descendants.
• It confirmed Abraham as God’s choice through whom all nations shall receive salvation.
• God was in control of Abraham’s life/all other events.
• The descendants of Abraham were promised the land of Canaan. 4×2=8 mks
c) State five importances of covenants in modern society. (5 marks)
• promote peace among the people/harmony/love
• Enable people to develop trust in relationship.
• They enlighten people on their rights.
• Covenants promote understanding in the society
• Covenants unite people e.g. reconciliation.
• Covenants ensures commitment at work
• Covenants make people to overcome emerging daily challenges together.
• Covenants help society to be organized/order is promoted.
• Covenants e.g. trade agreement help countries to develop economically.
• Covenant strengthens one’s faith in God.
• In making covenants with our fellow men is an approval of God’s example. 5×1=5 mks

a) What were the failures of king Saul? (6 marks)
• he lacked patience to wait for Samuel who was to offer a burnt offering to God.
• He offered the burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel to do it.
• He disobeyed God’s command to destroy Amalekites completely by sparing the life of king Agag.
• He spared the best of the animals instead of destroying them.
• He lost faith in God/He consulted the medium.
• He wanted to kill David/was jealous of David.
• He was deceitful to the servant of God;
• He committed suicide 6×1=6 mks
b) Explain four factors that led to spread of idolatry in Israel during the time of prophet Elijah. (8 marks)
• Ahab married a Phoenician Princess who introduced Baalism in Israel.
• King Ahab built an altar for Baal in the temple in Samaria.
• Baalism was made a state religion.
• The people intermarried against the will of God eg.King Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel.
• The Israelites changed their life from pastoralists to agriculturalists,hence turned to cananaanite gods to ensure
their land, livestock and children remained healthy and fertile.
• The king made treaties with the neighboring Phoenicians for trade and peace.
• The Israelites lacked strong faith in the invisible mighty God and turned to idols whom they could see and feel.
• The Israelites refused to listen to the teachings of the true prophets of Yahweh and instead killed them.
4×2=8mks
c) Identify six roles Christians play in restoration of true worship in Kenya today. (6 marks)
• pray to God to guide them on what they should do as they restore others to God
• Preach the word of God.
• They put up places of worship so that people can meet and worship God.
• Expose the works of the devil so that the people know the true worship of God.
• They correct those who do wrong in a manner that would restore them to the true worship of God.
• They evangelize the word of God /spread the word of God to others in order to bring them to God.
• They are role models /live exemplary life. 6×1=6 mks

a) Discuss how the prophetic messages were written. (8 marks)
• The prophets themselves may have written the prophetic messages.
• The prophets may have dictated the message to a scribe to write it down
• God dictated to the prophets what was to be put down.​

• The disciples of the prophets preserved their master’s teachings oral traditions and passed it over to subsequent
generations
• The disciples of the prophets treasured recollections of the prophet’s life and their oracles and incorporated them
in the historical books of the Bible.
• The scribes re-organized the prophet’s teaching according to the subject matter
• The collection, compiling and writing of the prophetic messages was accomplished over a long period of time.
4×2=8 mks
b) Describe the social background of Israel when Amos was called to prophesy. (7 marks)
• Amos was called to prophesy when the nation of Israel was very prosperous
• The nation was divided into classes, that it the rich and the power.
• The gap between the rich and the poor was wide.
• The rich led luxurious lives. They lived in luxurious houses and enjoyed sumptuous feasts.
• The poor lead miserable lives. They lacked the most basic needs.
• The rich drunk wine and used the most expensive perfumes
• The merchants were dishonest in their business. They overcharged and used false scales.
• The merchant sold goods of low quality to the poor.
• The poor were forced to borrow money at very high interests.
• The poor were sold to slavery if they failed to pay their debts
• In the law courts, bribery and corruption were very common.
• The people of Israel rejected the prophets who condemned their sinful practices.
• The property of the poor e.g. land was taken away by the wealthy people and the poor had been made squatters on the rich people’s land. 7×1=7mks
c) Outline five in which the church in Kenya fight against social evils. (5 marks)
• Preaching the gospel to make people change
• Praying for evil doers to change
• Educating the youth on moral issues
• Carrying out guidance and counseling
• Writing Christian literature on the dangers of evil
• Condemning evils of the leaders
• Creating job opportunities to absorb the unemployed
• Helping the needy
• Constructing rehabilitation centres
• Repenting/inviting people to repentance
• Punishing those who go against church rules.
• Reporting evils doers to the relevant authority
• Being role models for others to emulate 5×1=5 mks

a) Outline problems faced by the Israelites during the Babylonian exile. (7 marks)
• they lacked adequate food/famine
• problem of adapting to a new environment
• they suffered from various diseases and ailments
• some of them were executed
• Following /keeping the Babylonian laws.
• They were not united
• Their religious loyalty to God was undermined.
• They lacked places for worship/religious festivals
• There were influenced into idolatry.
• They were false prophets.
• They were turned into refugees in Egypt, Moab, Edom, Ammon. 7×1=7mks
b) Identify the message of prophet Jeremiah in his letters to the exiles.Jer 29. (7 marks)
• to build houses and live in them
• to plant gardens and eat their produce
• to marry and have children.
• To live in peace and promote the welfare of the cities where they were living.
• To pray for their masters
• Not to listen to the words of false prophets and diviners.
• To trust in God and not give up.

• God was accessible to them even in Babylon.
• God would restore them back to their land after seventy years.
• God would punish those who had remained in Judah for failing to listen to Him. 7×1=7 mks
c) Give six ways in which Christians help in reducing human suffering today. (6 marks)
• Donating food and clothing to the victims of suffering.
• Providing relief-aid to victims of war and famine stricken areas.
• Providing civic education on the rights of individuals
• Advocating for laws which are not discriminative
• Condemning acts which leads to suffering
• Advocating for equitable distribution of resources
• Providing guidance and counseling to the victims of suffering
• Voting out corrupt leaders.
• Creating job opportunities
• Being just and fair to others. 6×1=6 mks

a) Explain the meaning of life and its wholeness in Traditional African community. (10 marks)
• God is the source of life
• Human life has a rhythm of nature which nothing can destroy
• Individual have to go through different levels in life.
• Life is not only the physical existence but also spirit.
• All efforts are made to protect and increase in life
• Rites of passages incorporate a person into fullness of life.
• Life is enhanced through observance of rituals, taboos and regulations.
• Every person has a duty to promote life through marriage and procreation.
• People always express their appreciation to God as the source of life. 5×2=10mks
b) Outline the importance of naming in the Traditional African community. (5 marks)
• naming give the baby identity
• helps the community remember an ancestor
• naming defines the child’s character
• naming creates a sense of belonging to the clan
• naming dates events in the community
• it reminds of God’s blessings 5×1=5 mks
c) State five ways in which Traditional African Communities show appreciation to God as the source of life. (5 marks)
• Praying to God for protection, providence and sustainance.
• Offering sacrifices to God.
• Giving thanks offerings after a good harvest.
• Dancing and singing songs of praise
• Taking care of the environment
• Naming children after God.
• Associating certain animals and birds with God.
• Invoking God’s name frequently.
• Consulting African religious specialists on matters of God.
• Giving blessing /curses in the name of God. 5×1=5mks​