Sudan Christian Religious Education (8th Grade)

This curriculum is based on the South Sudan Primary 8 CRE Pupil's Book and Teacher's Guide, published in 2018 by Longhorn Publishers for the Ministry of General Education and Instruction. It provides a fun, practical approach to Christian Religious Education. The curriculum aims to equip pupils with lifelong skills and knowledge to thrive in a modern global society.

Unit 1: The Creed

This unit introduces the Apostles' Creed, its origins, divisions, and significance to Christian belief. It also explores the relationship between the Apostles' Creed and the Shahada in Islam.

• The Creed: A creed is a formal statement of faith. The Apostles' Creed is a foundational belief statement used by many Christian denominations.
• The Apostles' Creed: This creed summarizes the core beliefs about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
• Origin of the Apostles' Creed: The creed is believed to have evolved from early Christian texts and is thought to reflect the teachings of the twelve apostles.
• Relationship between the Apostles' Creed and Shahada: This section compares and contrasts the Christian and Islamic professions of faith, highlighting similarities and differences.
• Divisions of the Apostles' Creed: The creed is divided into three sections: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Each section contains several articles of faith.
• Teachings of the Apostles' Creed: This section delves into the specific teachings within each division of the creed.

Unit 2: The Major Prophets

This unit explores the major prophets in the Bible (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel), their roles, teachings, and importance to Christian belief. It also compares them with prophets in other religions.

• Meaning of a Prophet: A prophet is a person who speaks for God, delivering messages and prophecies. Major prophets are those whose ministry spanned a significant period.
• Major Prophets in the Bible: This section examines the lives, prophecies, and key messages of each major prophet.
• Roles of Major Prophets in Relation to Prophets in Other Religions: This section compares the roles and functions of prophets in Christianity with those in other religions, including Islam and traditional African religions.
• Importance of Major Prophets to the Christian Faith Today: This section discusses the continuing relevance of the major prophets' messages for Christians.

Unit 3: The Founding Fathers of Christianity in South Sudan

This unit examines the lives and contributions of key missionaries who brought Christianity to South Sudan. It also explores the challenges they faced and their impact on the region.

• The Founding Fathers of Christianity in South Sudan: This section introduces key missionaries like Bishop Daniel Comboni, Dr. Kenneth Fraser, Bishop Gwynne, Charles Salim Wilson, and Fr. Dr. John Lee Tae-Seok.
• Background to the Early Missionaries in South Sudan: This section provides biographical information about these missionaries and the context of their work.
• Roles of Missionaries in South Sudan: This section discusses the various roles missionaries played, including evangelism, education, healthcare, and cultural exchange.
• Problems Faced by the Founding Fathers in Preaching the Good News of Christ: This section explores the challenges missionaries encountered, such as language barriers, cultural differences, political instability, and health issues.
• Achievements Made by the Founding Fathers of Christianity: This section highlights the positive contributions of missionaries, such as building schools, hospitals, and churches.
• Failures of the Founding Fathers in South Sudan: This section examines areas where missionaries fell short, including cultural insensitivity and denominational divisions.
• Adaptation of the Traditional Practices to Christianity (Enculturation): This section discusses the process of integrating Christian beliefs with existing cultural practices.
• Comparison Between Works of the Founding Fathers and Indigenous People: This section compares the work of missionaries with the roles and influence of indigenous leaders and spiritual figures.

Unit 4: The Patriarchs

This unit explores the lives and significance of the biblical patriarchs, focusing on their faith and contributions to the development of the Israelite nation.

• Meaning of a Patriarch: A patriarch is a male head of a family or tribe. In the Bible, the patriarchs are key figures in the history of Israel.
• Patriarchs in the Bible: This section examines the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.
• Life and Call of Patriarchs: This section explores how each patriarch was called by God and the challenges they faced.
• How Patriarchs Expressed Their Faith to God: This section highlights examples of faith and obedience demonstrated by the patriarchs.
• Importance of Patriarchs to Christian Belief: This section discusses the significance of the patriarchs for Christians today.

Unit 5: African Traditional Prophets

This unit explores the roles and importance of traditional African prophets, comparing and contrasting them with biblical prophets.

• African Traditional Prophets: This section introduces traditional prophets and their roles in African societies.
• Roles of African Traditional Prophets: This section discusses the various functions of traditional prophets, such as mediating with the spiritual world, predicting events, and leading religious ceremonies.
• Importance of African Traditional Prophets to the Society: This section explores the significance of traditional prophets for community cohesion, spiritual guidance, and cultural preservation.
• Similarities Between African Traditional Prophets and Prophets in the Bible: This section compares the roles and functions of traditional prophets with those of biblical prophets.
• Differences Between Prophets in the Bible and African Traditional Prophets: This section highlights the key distinctions between the two, such as sources of authority, beliefs about the spiritual world, and methods of prophecy.