1.2.3 Sexual relationships and contraception Flashcards
What do Christians generally believe about sex?
Christians generally believe that sex should take place within marriage.
What do Christians believe sex is? How is this emphasised in a wedding ceremony?
Sex is believed to be a gift from God, this is emphasised during the wedding ceremony when the priest says;
“The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the delight and tenderness of sexual union…”
What 2 reasons did God create the gift of sex?
- For procreation - to produce children. This belief is based on Genesis 1:28 & 2:24 where man and woman are united together and instructed to ‘increase in number’.
- As a way for husband and wife to express their love for each other and as a way of deepening their relationship.
Who should sex only happen with according to Christians and why?
Sex should only happen with the person you love - casual sex or sex for temporary personal pleasure is considered wrong because it is not how God intended the gift of sex to be used.
What do christians believe casual sex and promiscuity can do? (3)
- cause emotional suffering
- spread sexually transmitted diseases
- result in unwanted pregnancy
In the Bible, what did Paul advise in relation to sex?
In the Bible, Paul advised sexual restraint:
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;”
What do Catholics believe should be practiced before marriage in relation to sex?
Catholics, for example, believe that before marriage a person should remain chaste. Chastity is to refrain from sexual relationships until married.
Where and how is the catholic view about only having sex within a marriage expressed?
The Catholic Churches view is expressed in the document Casti Connubii which says:
“Every sexual act must be within the framework of marriage”
What do Liberal Christians believe about sex outside of marriage?
Some liberal Christians (Liberal Anglicans & Quakers) have a different viewpoint and believe that sex before or outside marriage can be acceptable between people who are in a loving, stable, committed and long-term relationship where the intention is that they are to be life partners.
How do Liberal Christians support their view that sex can be acceptable outside of marriage?
They support their attitude with the argument that the Bible texts reflect the views of the time in which they were written and as such need to be interpreted in the context of modern society.
What do all christians believe in relation to sex, and why?
All Christians believe that fidelity (two people being sexual faithful to each other) is important - this is because a sexual relationship can result in children.
What is contraception?
Contraception refers to methods used to prevent a pregnancy from taking place.
What does the catholic church believe about contraception?
The Catholic Church teaches that artificial methods of contraception are wrong.
Why do Catholics believe contraception is wrong/what is this belief based on? (4)
- One reason why God created the gift of sexual intercourse was to produce children. This belief is based on Genesis 1:28 & 2:24 where man and woman are united together and instructed to ‘increase in number’.
- One of the purposes of marriage is to have children, this belief is expressed in the marriage ceremony.
- It goes against Natural Law. The primary precept to reproduce leads to the secondary precept that contraception is wrong; this is because the purpose of sexual intercourse is to produce children – contraception prevents that purpose from being achieved and is, therefore, wrong. It also prevents humans from fulfilling one of the purposes of life – continuation of the species through reproduction.
- A statement by the Catholic Church says “Every sexual act should have the possibility of creating new life” (Humanae Vitae).
What is Natural Law? (4)
- According to the principle of natural moral law all things have a purpose towards which they work.
- Everything is created to a particular design and for a particular purpose.
- Fulfilling that purpose is the good towards which everything aims.
- The purpose of things can be understood through an examination of the natural world, which reveals the purpose for which God created things.
