Human Dignity, Humility and Why Values Matter

1Why this topic matters

In Kinyarwanda, agaciro means dignity and self-worth, and Rwandans use it as a national value. Every person, rich or poor, with or without a disability, has worth that nobody should take away. Christianity and Islam teach that this dignity comes from God. They also teach humility, which stops us from looking down on others. This lesson ends by asking why religious and moral values matter at all.

21. Human dignity

Human dignity is the worth that every human being has, simply because he or she is human.

In Christianity. "God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27). Being made in God's image gives every person, man or woman, special worth. A psalm says God has "crowned him with glory and honour" (Psalm 8:5).

In Islam. "Verily We have honoured the children of Adam." (Qur'an 17:70). "Surely We created man of the best stature" (Qur'an 95:4). All people are equal before God, and only good conduct makes one person nobler than another: "O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct." (Qur'an 49:13)

So believers must not insult, mock or look down on anyone. The Qur'an says: "Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they (are)" (Qur'an 49:11). To deride is to mock.

32. Humility

Humility means not thinking of yourself as better than others, and being willing to serve.

In Christianity. "doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself" (Philippians 2:3). Conceit is too much pride in oneself. Jesus said: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12). He washed his disciples' feet, the work of a servant, and said: "For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you." (John 13:15)

In Islam. "The (faithful) slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly" (Qur'an 25:63). The wise Luqman advised his son: "Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. Lo! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster." (Qur'an 31:18). Pertness means showing off; a braggart boaster is someone who keeps praising himself.

43. Why religious and moral values matter

Worked example

Question: Explain two ways in which respect for human dignity can be shown at school. (4 marks)

Model answer: First, students should not mock classmates because of their poverty, appearance or disability, because the Qur'an forbids deriding others (Qur'an 49:11) and the Bible teaches that every person is made in God's image (Genesis 1:27) (2 marks). Second, students should include and help classmates who are new or struggling, for example by sharing notes or inviting them to play, since the noblest person is "the best in conduct" (Qur'an 49:13), not the richest or the strongest (2 marks).

Practice