Questions and Answers
KCSE Past Papers CRE 2015
1.(a)Name eight historical books in the Old Testament.(8 marks)
❖ Joshua
❖ Judges
❖ Ruth
❖ First Samuel
❖ Second Samuel
❖ First Kings
❖ Second Kings
❖ First Chronicles
❖ Second Chronicles
❖ Ezra
❖ Nehemiah
❖ Esther
(b)Outline the reasons why the Bible is referred to as a Library.7 marks)
❖ It contains many books.
❖ The books were written by different authors
❖ It has different categories of books/ divisions
❖ The books are written in different styles/ forms
❖ The books in the Bible were written at different times/ situations/ backgrounds
❖ The books in the Bible address different issues/ topics/ purposes
❖ The books were written for different audiences/ readers
❖ The books are systematically arranged / order/ chronologically
(c)Give five occasions when Christians use the Bible. (5 marks)
❖ When preaching the word of God (crusade/ church sermons)
❖ When in court
❖ When instructing new converts/ conducting Bible study
❖ During different Christian religious ceremonies/ festivals
❖ When teaching Christian Religious Education
❖ When composing Gospel songs/ plays/ Christian literature
❖ During fellowships/ prayers/ guidance and counselling
❖ During a swearing in ceremony
2.(a)Narrate Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son Isaac.(Genesis 22:1- 19)6mks)
❖ God told Abraham to take his only son to the land of Moriah/ offer him as a sacrifice,
❖ Abraham took his son, two servants and wood for burnt offering,
❖ They arrived at the place after a three day’s journey,
❖ Abraham commanded his servants to remain behind as he and Isaac went up to worship.
❖ He took Isaac, the firewood and the knife and went up.
❖ Isaac asked his father where the lamb for the offering would come from,
❖ Abraham told Isaac’ that God would provide the lamb for a burnt offering. When they arrived at the place God had commanded, Abraham build an altar.
He bound Isaac, laid him on the altar upon the wood Abraham took the knife to slay his son but the angel of the Lord stopped him. Abraham saw a ram, which he offered instead of his son.
❖ He called the name of the place. The Lord will provide.
❖ The, angel appeared to Abraham a second time and gave him promises because of his obedience.
❖ Abraham returned with his men to Beersheba.
(b)What are the differences between the Jewish and Traditional African practicesof circumcision? (8 marks)
❖ In the Jewish community circumcision is for the male children only whereas in African practices, it is for both male and female.
❖ Among the Jews, circumcision is performed on babies of 8 days old: whereas in traditional African communities, it is done during adolescence stage.
❖ In African communities, it is a test of courage, whereas in Jewish community, it is a sign of covenant with God/ sign of faith,
❖ Circumcision in African communities is a communal practice whereas among the Jews, only members of the immediate family participate.
❖ In Traditional African communities, initiates takes up responsibilities while among the Jews, the initiates are too young to shoulder any responsibility.
❖ In traditional African communities circumcision is carried out during specific seasons while among the Jews, it is continuous.
(c)Give six ways through which Christians portray themselves in society today.
3. (a) Explain six ways used by King David to promote the worship of Yahweh in Israel.(12 marks)
❖ He brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
❖ He made Jerusalem a holy city where Israelites from all over the land came for important religious occasions.
❖ He composed the Psalms which were used in worship by the Israelites.
❖ He showed respect to the prophets of Yahweh/ listened to their messages.
❖ He wanted to build a temple for God/ made preparations for its construction.
❖ When he made mistakes, he asked for Yahweh’s forgiveness/ repented.
❖ He sought for God’s guidance in whatever he wanted to do
❖ He entered into a covenant with God.
❖ He build altars / offered sacrifices
(b) Discuss four life skills used by prophet Elijah to fight against false religion in Israel.(8 marks)
❖ Assertiveness – tie rota Arlan mar ne was me cause of trounce in Israel.
❖ Creative thinking – He requested for a contest between the prophets of Baal and himself.
❖ Decision making -He killed the prophets/ prophetesses of baal.
❖ Self esteem – He was convinced that God was on his side.
❖ Negotiation – Elijah asked the Israelites to choose between God and Baal.
❖ Conflict resolution – Through the contest, he convinced the Israelites that Yahweh was the true God.
❖ Effective communication – He explained to the people how the contest was to be carried out.
❖ Self awareness – He knew that he was the prophet of the true God/ he had confidence in himself.
4. (a) Describe three groups of true prophets in the Old Testament. (6 marks)
❖ Major prophets-their messages/ books / are elaborate
❖ Minor prophets- they have short / brief messages
❖ Canonical prophets- they are prophets whose utterances are recorded in books that bear their names
❖ Non- Canonical prophets – they are prophets whose oracles / messages have been compiled by other authors
❖ Cultic/ early prophets- they are prophets whose duties were associated with places of worship
❖ Early prophets were sent by God for specific tasks e.g. Moses
(b) Give six similarities between the Traditional African prophets and the true prophets in the Old Testament.(6 marks)
❖ Both predicted future events/ disasters
❖ Both acted as mediators between God and the people
❖ Both had supernatural powers to exercise their duties
❖ Both had a personal relationship with God/ received revelations through visions/ dreams
❖ They were religious leaders who could offer sacrifices/ prayers
❖ Both played an advisory role to the political leaders/ acted as the conscience of the leaders
❖ Both urged their people to be morally upright / condemned evil in society
❖ They led exemplary lives / were role models
❖ In both cases there were prophets and prophetesses
(c) Identify eight problems experienced by church leaders in their work. (8 marks)
❖ Church leaders are rejected/ persecuted
❖ They have rivalry among themselves / inferiority /superiority complex
❖ They experienced discrimination based on nepotism / tribalism/ gender status
❖ There is hypocrisy among church members / religious syncretism
❖ Inadequate finance / materials for their work/ poverty
❖ They encounter temptations in their duties
❖ They encounter language barriers while spreading the word of God barriers
❖ There is conflicting interpretation of the Bible
❖ There is political interference in their work
❖ They are faced with competition from false prophets/ cults
❖ Permissiveness in society hinders their work
❖ Poor infrastructure makes it difficult for them to access some areas
❖ Insecurity / hostility
5. (a) Describe the meaning of the symbolic act of buying land by the Prophet Jeremiah. (8 marks)
❖ It showed the people of Judah still had a future despite the coming crisis/ Judah will regain freedom after conquest.
❖ It was assurances that the people would be restored back to their homeland/ reclaim their land.
❖ It demonstrated that the people would resume their normal lives/ construct homes/ cultivate land/ own property.
❖ Divine judgment was not an end in itself.
❖ Restoration was to take place at God’s own time/ God was to determine when the people would be restored back. (Time).
❖ The people had to wait patiently for their return from exile.
❖ It showed that God was loving/faithful/ was to keep his promise of restoration/ bring them back to their ancestral land.
❖ It made them feel secure/ they were not to lack anything
(b)Explain the challenges faced by the Prophet Jeremiah during his ministry.
❖ He was rejected by his own family/ relatives.
❖ People made false accusations against him.
❖ He was threatened with death because of speaking for God.
❖ He lived a lonely solitary life/ was commanded to neither marry nor attend any social gathering.
❖ His message was rejected by the Israelites.
❖ He went through spiritual struggle as he saw the evil prosper while the righteous suffered.
❖ He was physically assaulted/ beaten.
❖ The enemies attempted to kill him/ He was put in a muddy cistern.
❖ He was humiliated in public/ mocked.
❖ He was imprisoned/ jailed.
❖ He was arrested and put on trial.
(c)Give five ways through which Christians settle disagreements among themselves.(5 marks)
❖ They pray over the issue/ problem
❖ They offer guidance and counseling to the affected
❖ Paying visits/ talking to the offender/ fellowship
❖ By involving church leaders as arbitrators.
❖ Forgiving the one who has wronged the other/ asking for forgiveness
❖ Willingness by the offender to accept the mistakes made/ accepting liability.
❖ Withdrawing some privileges for a period of time so that one can reform
❖ By sharing meals /eating together
❖ Through shaking of hands/ accepting a greeting.
6. (a) Explain the significance of rituals conducted during the naming ceremonies in Traditional African Communities. (10 marks)
❖ Bathing of the baby sets in the begging of new life
❖ Shaving of the mother and baby’s hair symbolizes new status
❖ Choosing of the appropriate name to give the baby is for identification/ incorporation into the wider society/ honour to the ancestors
❖ Feeding of the baby symbolized new life growth
❖ Holding of the baby by members of the community shows concern for it/ shared responsibility by the extended family
❖ Saying prayers/ words of blessings for the mother and baby signifies long life
❖ Slaughtering of animals is a way of thanksgiving to ancestors/ God
❖ Feasting is a sign of joy/ socialism/ welcoming the baby/ acceptance
❖ Giving of presents to the baby/ mother is a sign o f good will/ ownership of property
❖ Wearing of charms signifies protection for the baby/ mother
(b)Which moral values were acquired during marriage in Traditional African Communities?(5 marks)
❖ Faithfulness/ loyalty/ obedience
❖ Respect/ courtesy
❖ Responsibility/ hard work
❖ Hospitality/ kindness
❖ Tolerance/ perseverance/ endurance/ patience
❖ Love
❖ Co-operation/ unity
❖ Humility
❖ Honesty
❖ Integrity
❖ Courage
(c ) Give reasons why Traditional African Communities feared death.
❖ It disrupts the rhythm of human life/ activity
❖ It is irrevocable/ inescapable
❖ It brings impurity to the family
❖ It deprives the community of the individuals
❖ It involves too many rituals
❖ It comes unannounced
❖ It separates one from the loved ones/ marks the end of life on earth
❖ Nobody knows about the life after death
❖ It may cause misunderstanding in the community
❖ Death rites reveal people’s characteristics
❖ It brings poverty to the family involved
