Cameroon GCE O-Level Religious Studies cheat sheet

The Bible is divided into two Testaments: the Old Testament (39 books in the Protestant canon) and the New Testament (27 books), giving 66 books in total.

Old Testament groupings: Law (Torah/Pentateuch: Genesis–Deuteronomy), Historical books, Wisdom/Writings (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs), and Prophets (Major and Minor).

New Testament groupings: Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Acts of the Apostles, Pauline and General Epistles, and Revelation (apocalyptic).

Inspiration means Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16); the human authors wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20–21).

Authority of Scripture rests on its divine origin; it is described as useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Revelation is God's self-disclosure: general revelation through nature and conscience, special revelation through Scripture and Jesus Christ.

Canon means the list of books accepted as authoritative; the criterion was apostolic origin, use in worship and consistency with the rule of faith.

The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic (parts of Daniel and Ezra) and Greek (New Testament), and is translated into local languages including Cameroonian languages.

Genesis 1 presents creation in six days with God resting on the seventh; the refrain 'and God saw that it was good' recurs, with humanity declared 'very good'.

Genesis 2 gives a second account: God forms man from dust, breathes life into him, plants Eden, and creates woman from his rib as a helper.

Creation is ex nihilo (out of nothing) in Christian doctrine; God is Creator and distinct from creation, which he sustains.

Humanity is made in the image of God (imago Dei), giving dignity, moral responsibility and capacity for relationship with God.

Humans are given dominion/stewardship over creation (Genesis 1:28), understood as responsible care, not exploitation.

Human nature is described as body and spirit/soul; humans are relational (male and female), moral agents with free will.

The Sabbath rest establishes a pattern of work and rest and the sanctity of time.

Stewardship of creation underpins Christian environmental responsibility in the Cameroonian context.

The Fall: the serpent tempts Eve, who eats the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and gives to Adam; both disobey God.

Consequences: shame, hiding from God, blame-shifting, expulsion from Eden, and the entry of sin and death into human experience.

Specific judgements: the serpent is cursed to crawl; the woman receives pain in childbirth; the man must toil for food from cursed ground.

Original sin denotes the inherited condition of alienation from God; Romans 5 contrasts Adam's disobedience with Christ's obedience.

Sin is defined as disobedience to God's will; it damages relationships with God, others, self and creation.

The protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15) is read as the first promise of a redeemer who will crush the serpent's head.

God's grace appears in the Fall narrative: he clothes Adam and Eve and does not abandon humanity.

The Fall explains human suffering, moral struggle and the need for salvation in Christian theology.

Abraham: called from Ur/Haran, promised land, descendants and blessing to nations; covenant sealed by circumcision (Genesis 12, 15, 17).

Isaac, son of promise; Jacob (renamed Israel) has twelve sons who become the twelve tribes; Joseph's story explains Israel's move to Egypt.

Moses: rescued as a baby, called at the burning bush, leads the Exodus, receives the Law at Sinai, and mediates the covenant.

The Exodus: ten plagues, Passover, crossing the Red Sea, wilderness wandering for forty years, and entry into Canaan under Joshua.

Monarchy: Saul (first king), David (Jerusalem capital, dynastic promise), Solomon (temple, wisdom, but apostasy through foreign wives).

Division after Solomon into Israel (north, ten tribes, capital Samaria) and Judah (south, capital Jerusalem); northern kingdom falls to Assyria 722 BC, Judah to Babylon 586 BC.

Prophets call for covenant faithfulness, justice and repentance: Amos (justice), Hosea (unfaithfulness), Isaiah (holiness and messianic hope), Jeremiah (new covenant), Ezekiel (restoration).

Post-exilic return under Cyrus, rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel and reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Birth: annunciation to Mary, virgin conception by the Holy Spirit, birth in Bethlehem, visited by shepherds and Magi.

Baptism by John in the Jordan, temptation in the wilderness, and the calling of the twelve disciples.

Miracles include healings, exorcisms, feeding of the 5,000, calming the storm and raising the dead, signifying the kingdom of God.

Parables: the Good Samaritan (neighbour love), Prodigal Son (forgiveness), Sower (response to the word), Talents (accountability).

Key teaching: the Beatitudes, love of God and neighbour, the Golden Rule, forgiveness, prayer (Lord's Prayer) and the kingdom of God.

Passion: triumphal entry, Last Supper, betrayal by Judas, trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, crucifixion at Golgotha, burial.

Resurrection on the first day of the week, appearances to women, disciples and Paul; ascension and promise of the Holy Spirit.

Atonement themes: sacrifice for sin, reconciliation, victory over death; resurrection is the foundation of Christian hope (1 Corinthians 15).

Pentecost: the Spirit descends on the disciples with wind and tongues of fire; they speak in other languages; Peter preaches and about 3,000 are baptised.

Titles and symbols of the Spirit: Comforter/Paraclete, Advocate, Spirit of truth; symbols include dove, wind, fire, water and oil.

Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12): wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation.

Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The Church is the body of Christ with Christ as head; believers are members with different functions.

Marks of the Church: one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic.

Sacraments practised in the New Testament Church: baptism and the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion).

Early Church life: teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, sharing possessions, and mission expansion through Paul's journeys.

Ten Commandments (Exodus 20): first four concern duty to God (no other gods, no idols, no misuse of God's name, keep the Sabbath); the rest concern neighbour (honour parents, no murder, adultery, theft, false witness, covetousness).

Jesus summarises the Law as love of God with all heart, soul and mind, and love of neighbour as oneself (Matthew 22:37–40).

Beatitudes (Matthew 5): blessings on the poor in spirit, mourners, meek, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers and the persecuted.

Sermon on the Mount teaches the Golden Rule, turning the other cheek, love of enemies, forgiveness, and not judging others.

Moral decision-making uses Scripture, conscience, reason, prayer and the counsel of the Christian community.

Natural law and conscience are understood as God-given guides, though conscience must be formed and can be mistaken.

Situation ethics (Joseph Fletcher) weighs love as the overriding norm, in contrast to rule-based or absolutist ethics.

Christian ethics is grounded in the character of God and the example of Christ, not merely in rules.

Family: marriage as a covenant between man and woman, faithfulness, mutual love, and children's duty to honour and obey parents.

Work is dignified by creation; humans are called to labour and rest, and workers deserve fair treatment and just wages.

Citizenship: obey lawful authority (Romans 13), pay taxes, respect the law, and participate in society for the common good.

Stewardship means managing God-given resources (time, talents, money, land) responsibly and generously.

Social responsibility includes care for the poor, widows, orphans, strangers, the sick and prisoners (Matthew 25).

Tithing and freewill offerings are practised as expressions of gratitude and support for the church's mission.

Christian living requires honesty, integrity, humility and service, exemplified in servant leadership.

The Church's role in society includes education, health care, advocacy and reconciliation.

Belief in a Supreme Being (called Nsi, Nyame, Mawu-Lisa, Chukwu in different cultures) who is often approached through intermediaries.

Belief in divinities/deities, ancestors (the living dead) and spirits; ancestors are honoured as guardians of morality and tradition.

Sacred specialists include diviners, medicine men, priests, rainmakers and traditional rulers, each with distinct roles.

Practices include libation, sacrifice, prayer, initiation rites, naming ceremonies, marriage rites, burial rites and festivals.

Moral codes are enforced by taboo, the community and belief in ancestral punishment; the community is central, expressed in ubuntu-style solidarity.

Sacred places and objects: shrines, sacred groves, rivers, mountains, masks and charms.

Points of contact with Christianity: belief in one God, prayer, sacrifice, moral values, respect for ancestors and community life.

Points of tension: polytheistic tendencies, ancestor veneration, divination and sacrifice, which raise questions of inculturation and syncretism.

Islam: founded in the 7th century by Prophet Muhammad in Arabia; scripture is the Qur'an; five pillars are shahada (creed), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Islam is monotheistic (tawhid); Jesus (Isa) is honoured as a prophet but not divine; Muhammad is the final prophet.

Islam entered Cameroon mainly through trade and Fulani influence in the north; Muslims are a significant minority, especially in the Adamawa and Far North regions.

Judaism: covenant with Abraham, Torah, synagogue worship and the Sabbath; a small community exists in Cameroon.

Traditional Chinese and Asian religions are largely absent, but Hinduism and Buddhism are studied as world faiths with karma, dharma, nirvana and reincarnation concepts.

African Traditional Religion remains widespread alongside Christianity and Islam, and many people combine practices.

Interfaith relations are managed through dialogue, respect and institutions such as councils of churches and Muslim associations.

Religious tolerance is guaranteed by the constitution's freedom of worship and is a condition for national unity in a multi-faith state.

Justice: biblical prophets demand fair courts, honest scales and care for the poor; justice is both distributive and retributive.

Peace: peacemaking is a Beatitude; peace is not merely the absence of war but right relationships (shalom).

Corruption: bribery, embezzlement and nepotism violate the eighth and tenth commandments and undermine development; Cameroon has anti-corruption bodies such as CONAC.

HIV/AIDS: Christian response includes compassion, non-discrimination, care for the sick, education and prevention, and opposition to stigma.

Environment: stewardship of creation opposes deforestation, pollution and unsustainable mining; care for the environment is a Christian duty.

Religious tolerance: respect for freedom of conscience, dialogue, and rejection of religious violence and discrimination.

Christian social action includes advocacy, charity, education and health services in response to these issues.

Human rights and the dignity of the human person, grounded in the image of God, inform responses to injustice and exploitation.