FACILITATION TIPS FOR CRE P245/4

CHRISTIAN APPROACHES TO SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

BY KATUMBA DANIEL (0750 917878)
• What is expected of us?
• How do we lose marks?
1. FAILURE TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION
There has been a change of instructions from the previous years

(RUBRIC) You are required to attempt four questions taken from all

sections

Poor choice of questions will translate into poor scores and consequently

poor grades Remember there are no marks for courage

2. APPROACH TO QUESTIONS
Be abreast with the dimensions of the questions you have chosen

ATS Mark the tense (AT) past tense and examples must be related to
tradition.

PS examples must be limited to present day issues or aspects

If a question limits you to Uganda, the examples must be picked from

Uganda Note the scope of the question
Bible- OT,NT,CT

If you are limited by any of these, answer your questions accordingly

Some questions will require you to approach issues as a Christian, so desist

from using a secular perspective
This is very common for part b of these 12 questions
• Examples of such aspects
• Abortion
• Condom use
• Wealth
• Politics
• Euthanasia/mercy killing
• Sex
• Homosexuality
• Family planning
• Alcohol
• Trial marriage
• Divorce

If you are told to comment on the above issues, your approach should be
Christian based even if you do not see the word “as a Christian”
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 What qualifies your point is what Christianity says about these issues

Eg Why do Christians object to trial marriage, homosexuality, divorce,

euthanasia? NB Show what these issues/aspects involve and yet Christianity

emphasizes…….

3. DEFINITIONS
You are required to define a concept/term or a series of words (compound word)
for you to earn the SH mark (synthetic handling)

NB you should use the simplest of words to define, Endeavour to define

4. SOME QUESTIONS REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE A STAND POINT

The following are characteristics of the right stand

• It must be realistic ie take the stand objectively and not subjectively

• It must be the right stand
• it must be complete
• if need be it must be quantified
• see whether there is a need for however side
• support your stand and the however side as well

Nature of questions that require a stand point

(a) Statement questions

Examples

1. Responsible parenthood means more than producing children “comment

2. Young people in traditional Africa had a better view of sex than their counter
parts today” discuss
3. Work is a curse rather than a blessing to man” comment on the above statement
in light of your Christian understanding of work
4. Leisure in traditional African society was basically for community development” comment
5. In most countries, the professional ethics of doctors forbid euthanasia”
discuss yes the professional…….

6. War as a method of settling disputes is not acceptable in Christianity”

discuss No it is not acceptable to use war……
NB ( i )most questions which require you to comment require taking a
stand point (ii ) some may be one sided argument hence may not need
however side eg 4
iii others may be double sided arguments but in most cases the positive side
takes more marks than the however side so discuss it exhaustively
Iv others may require you to refute a statement or change it eg 3b

1. “champion beer for champion men” as a Christian comment on this advertisement

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 2. A health worker advised youths to use condoms, as a Christian, comment on
the health worker’ advise
3. An Anglican counsel of Bishops in 2001 defrocked a bishop for supporting
homosexuality. Comment on the council’s decision
4. Leading waragi tastefully different. Comment on the advert
For statement questions, the answers should be related to the statement under
discussion
Eg treat a visitor as a visitor for two days and the next day give him a hoe” in light
of the above statement, discuss the African traditional view of work

NB The answers must be in line with the statement

• Eg everybody in traditional society was a worker and therefore the visitor was
part of the corporate society and was expected to work
• Traditional Africans worked for basic needs like food, shelter, clothing so a visitor
needed food, shelter, clothing so he had to work.

(b) TO WHAT EXTENT QUESTIONS/HOW FAR

Questions of this nature require to be realistic when taking a stand point and the
following Are worthy noting

• Take the right stand

• Quantify your stand (how much ie to a less, small(er) or large, big (er)
• Support the stand
• Turn to the however part and support it
NB Be guided by your Christian position realistically to decide on how much
(quantify) each side
• For institutions like church, government, police, judiciary, professions like
teaching, medical, judiciary etc be realistic when taking a stand point, ggive
credit where it is due then criticize on the however side
• Do not be tempted to say to some extent, certain extent because it is not a clear
stand
• Quantify your extent only and only when the question says how far or to what
extent
Examples
1. To what extent should the church be blamed for the fast spread of HIV/AIDS
2. To what extent should the police be blamed for the rampant criminal tendencies/mob
justice
3. How far is it true to say that doctors/ teachers have fulfilled their professional ethics
4. To what extent should a police officer/Christian obey/respect the laws of his country?
5. To what extent should a Christian participate in the politics of his country?
6. To what extent should Christian students support strikes or war
NB some questions may require one to support the views with Christian
acking/views Some questions require qualifying points(on the however side with
a Christian point of view

These kind of questions are not 3 sided questions but 2 sided questions
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5. PRESENTATION OF POINTS
• Explain your points, do not outline outlines do not earn one any mark.
Desist from repeating statements from the question
• State your points clearly
• Explain your points in relation to the question. You can use Ws eg how why
• Give a relevant example
• The example should come from a thoroughly explained point, it should be
relevant ie related to /rhyme with/match with the point explained, should be
gauged at least using 3-4 WS
•
HOW MUCH SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE 2 AND HALF HOURS

Time allocation 2hours 30 minutes

Equivalent to 150 minutes divided by 4 questions = 37 minutes so plan

accordingly Mark allocation

(a) 12 marks-01SH 09PS 02SH

(b) 13 marks-10CT 03SH
Beware of leading questions where part a guides you into

answering part b Block questions 25 marks- 01SH, 13PS 06PS

05SH

Nb You can be guided by the mark allocation if you have a lot of points to write

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How to score SH marks

An SH mark is for smart , zealous and enthusiastic candidates who are ready to go an
extra mile, It is awarded on,

Definition, stand, a relevant well developed examples

DIMENSION SOURCES OF SH
PS • Contemporary, current issues from news papers,
journals, news bulletins, speeches made, statements
made
• The candidate should be in the know, informed and
abreast with information
• Do not forget the 3-4 Ws
AT • Identify a society in Africa
• Locate the society eg Buganda of central Uganda
• Mention the practice
• Use the vernacular words to allude or refer to it
• Translate them into English for better understanding of
examiners
Alternatively
• Quote a book of any African writer or play or novel eg
song of lawino, African religions and philosophy, things
fall apart
• Quote a statement from a book or novel, play or a practice
written about eg nolonger at ease, the river between, betrayal
in the city etc eg “you marry even if you are grey haired, bold
headed, together full of age with a bending back but un
married, you are still a child”

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 • Quote the author of a book eg Okot P’Bitek (song of lawino,
john s Mbiti African religions and philosophy, Chinya
achebe(arrow of God, things fall apart, nolonger at ease
NB whatever you quote must be related to the
topic OR
You can quote a revolutionary leader, pan African leader or any
African icon and the words alluded to eg Nellson mandera, Julius
Nyerere, Professor Ali mazrui etc eg treat a visitor as a visitor for
two days and the third day give him a hoe (mwalimu Julius
Nyerere
Africans were notoriously religious John S Mbiti (African religions
and philosophy)
BIBLE • You can quote a biblical personality and what he did in
relatrion to the point you want to put across
• Quote a teaching a book, gospel, letter, the author and
specific teaching
• Atleast 3ws for Biblical examples either from the NT or OT

6. RUBRIC
• A set of instructions in an exam, book, paper etc
• Follow the rubric of the paper
• 4 questions taken from all three sections
• Make the right choice of questions
• NB your passing will depend on the choice of questions you make
• Make sure you read the instructions to ascertain the changes and act accordingly
• Do not waste time attempting more than required questions

NATURE OF QUESTIONS

1. STATEMENT QUESTIONS
• Take a stand if need be
• Define a key word if it is there
• Don’t forget the however side if it is 2 dimensional-at times it may require
/necessitate repeating the statement to earn the SH mark
• Some statement questions are 3
dimensional eg Money is the root cause of all
evils” discuss
The police is solely responsible for the increasing criminal tendencies in Uganda
today” discuss

2. SEGMENTED QUESTIONS
• Each segment should be dealt with differently because each segment
hasmarks allocated for it.
• Balance your arguments and your presentation should depend on the marks
allocated Examples

Examine the Christian view of marriage and celibacy

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 Analyze the treatment of bachelors and spinster in ATS

Account for the increased cases of pre marital and extra marital sex

•When defining consider both terms( to your advantage, one may be right
and the other wrong
3. TO WHAT EXTENT QUESTIONS/ HOW FAR
• They are 2 sided arguments
• Take a quantified right stand
• Don’t forget the however side
4. ILLUSTRATION (TIVE) QUESTIONS)
• These require you to give evidence/examples for
each point Examples

What evidence is there in the Bible to support Bride wealth

With illustrations from the Bible, show evidence of irresponsible parent hood

With evidence from the Bible examine the right ways in which wealth
should be spent and acquired

5. QUESTIONS WHICH REQUIRE CHRISTIAN POINTS OF VIEW AND

SUPPORT FROM THE BIBLE
Example

Why do Christians object to

•
Pornography
•
Homosexuality
•
Beauty contests
•
Condom use
•
Abortion
•
Euthanasia
•
Trial marriage
•
Concubinage show the dangers arising from these and the Christian
teaching on these issues
6. COMPARISON QUESTIONS
• You are required to give both similarities and difference
• Balance your arguments
• The following should not be used while
comparing Not the case, it was rare, it
was not there

• Comparisons must be complete

• Compare the comparable

NB Some questions may only cal for similarities or differences. Just answer
what is asked
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 Examples
Examine the differences between European and African concept of family

Analyze the similarities in the African and present /modern understanding of

wealth.
• When contrasting use the following
qualifiers While, whereas, unlike

• When giving similarities you can say “in both”

7. JUSTIFY
• These questions require you to prove that the statement made is right
• In most cases, these are one sided arguments
• Support or affirm the statement
made Example

“Responsible parent hood means more than producing children”justify

8. EVALUATE/ASSESS/ASSESS THE VALIDITY

• In such questions you are expected to weigh and in most cases you weigh
negatively and positively
Examples

As a Christian evaluate the African traditional view of sex

As a Christian, evaluate the African traditional ways of imparting sex education

9. ANALYSE/EXAMINE/EXPLAIN
• Just give the facts required in the
question Examples

Examine the ways in which sex education was imparted in African traditional
society Analyse the forms of sex deviations in Uganda today
Examine the concept of legitimate use of of sex in African traditional society

10. SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS/GIVING ADVISE

• Follow the trend of the question
• Suggest what is possible not what is impossible
• Give Christian advise not secular advise
• Be mindful of the tense
used Examples
What can the church do to overcome sex
deviations? What should the church do to help
orphans?
What has the church done to support women liberation movement (already in
place)

What is the church doing to solve the problem of unemployment (currently doing)

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 • Do not involve the government if the question limits you to the church
• If it is what advice would you give, follow the trend of the question
11. ACCOUNT FOR QUESTIONS/GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF
• These questions require you to give reasons for (account for)
• Give an account of (narrative, common in p1 and p2)
12. COMMENT
• Take a stand
• Qualify your answer with biblical teaching or Christian teaching
• For controversial issues like alcoholism (give both positive and negative)
13. CONDITIONAL QUESTIONS
• When answering these questions, use qualifiers such as, when, in case, if
• Sometimes objections to controversial issues may necessitate stating the
danger or effect of something and qualify it with a Christian point of view
using the word Yet Examples
(a) Under what circumstances Euthanasia/mercy killing may be justified?

(b) why do Christians object mercy killing

Under what circumstance may war be
justified?
To what extent should a christen participate in a strike, the however side
requires you to used qualifiers
(a) Under what circumstances may abortion be justified

(b) Why does Christianity object to abortion

Abortion involves murder yet Christianity emphasizes preserving life

Abortion usurps God’s power over life yet it is God to give and take
away life
To what extent should a Christian participate in the politics of his country?(
however side –To a small extent may not participate because politics
involves division of people yet Christianity calls for unity

14. DISCUSS QUESTIONS

• Discuss at the beginning of the question is usually a one sided argument
• Discuss at the end is a two sided or three sided or even one sided
GENERAL RERMARKS
• Read and understand the instructions
• Make the right choice of questions
• Do not fear exams, fear is the greatest weapon the devil uses to intimidate you
• Remember God did not give us a spirit of fear but of a sond mind
• Budget your time very well each question is approximately 37 minutes
• Plan before you begin any paper/take about 7-10 minutes planning
• Don’t forget the 5Ps Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

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 • Commit your plans to God and surely you will succeed (prov

16:3) SUMMARY OF POINTS

Permissiveness
Poverty

P Parental neglect
Peer influence
Pornography
Poor role models
Poor child upbringing
Political instabilities
Political ideologies different
Curiosity

C
Cultural decay
Corruption
Concupiscence
chauvinism

Material wealth

M
Moral decadence
Mass media
Modernity

Idleness
Western influence

O Irreligion
Generation gap
Inadequate sex education
Envy /jealousy
Un exemplary conduct
Desire for revenge
Frustrations

ALWAYS REMEMBER MINUS THE BIBLE

CHRISTIANITY CANNOT STAND
“BE BLESSED”

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