3.2 Marriage Flashcards
Attitudes towards the importance and purpose of marriage
What is the majority Christian teaching about marriage?
That it should happen between a man and a woman.
What do Christians teach about the act of marriage?
That it is evidence of a spiritual unity that occurs between a couple.
What do Christians believe about the promises that are made during a Christian marriage ceremony?
That they are for life and should not be broken.
This is because the vows are between the man and the woman but also the couple and God.
What three blessings does marriage offer?
procreation and nurture of children
correct place for sexual relations
help and comfort in all aspects of life
What do married couples learn through marriage that helps them interact better with society?
patience
forgiveness
How do Christians believe marriage is a reflection of Christ’s love for the church?
Christ is forever committed to the church and a husband and wife should be forever committed to each other.
How do the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches see marriage?
As a sacrament ->
Creates an unbreakable and unique bond that helps the couple be faithful and good parents
A way of ensuring that God is at the center of the marriage and that they are fulfilling his will.
Roman Catholics must both be baptised and at least one of them must be Catholic
How does the Church of England see marriage?
A spiritual union
Any heterosexual couple may be married in the church
Mixed faith couples may be married in the church but the service remains unchanged
Wedding banns are read out in church in the weeks leading up to the wedding to ensure that it is legally allowed to happen
Getting married in church brings blessings to the marriage
How does a Non-Conformist Church see marriage?
There is more freedom for the bride and groom to influence the content of the service, e.e. they might write their own vows
The emphasis is on the couple making promises to God rather than God acting through the marriage service
In a Quaker wedding the belief is that only God canjoin a couple together so there is no minister to lead the proceedings which are carried out in silence until the vows and the marriage certificate is signed - this shows that the marriage union is made between the couple and God
Sources of Authority quotes on marriage
Mark 10: 7-9 “Man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh… Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.”
