GCSE RS Unit 3.3 - Sex & Marriage

Question 1

What were the attitudes towards Sex & Marriage in the 1950s?

Answer 1

• Leave sex for marriage
• Married by 25
• 65% weddings occur in Church
• Cohabit = “living in sin”

Question 2

What were the attitudes towards Sex & Marriage in the 2010s?

Answer 2

• 97% of people have pre-marital sex
• Average sexual partner number = 5-10
• 80% of people have > 1 sexual partner
• Sociali acceptable to co-habit
• Married at 32

Question 3

What are the Christian attitudes towards Sex & Marriage?

Answer 3

• God created man + woman for each other
• The relationship is perfectly fulfilled in the Sacrament of Marriage
• Genesis 2:18-24, God said “It is not good for man to be alone”
• Genesis 2:18-24, God said “a man leaves his Father and Mother and clings to his wife and they become one flesh”

Question 4

What is the purpose of Marriage for Catholics?

Answer 4

Marriage is supposed to be:

• Unitve: Unites a couple in life-long relationship of love and faithfulness
• Creative: The best place for Pro-creation and bringing up of Christian children

Question 5

What is the purpose of Sex for Catholics?

Answer 5

Purpose of Sex is Unitive + Creative

Church teaches Sex + Marriage go together because they have the same purpose

Question 6

What happens in a Catholic Marriage ceremony?

Answer 6

• The Priest acts as the Churches witness
• Priest says in Wedding: “This is not simply a contract, but a sacrament, blessed by God.”
• Bride & Groom exchange vows in which they promise a life-time of faithfulness to accept children as a gift from God
• The couple exchange rings, which symbolise the unending nature of marriage
• Prayers are said asking for God to bless the union, and holy communion may also be taken

Question 7

What is Pre-Marital Sex?

Answer 7

Sex before being married to someone

Question 8

What is Extra-Marital Sex?

Answer 8

Sex with someone you’re not married to

Question 9

What is the Christian attitude towards Sex?

Answer 9

Sex:

• Is a valuable gift from God
• Created for the JOY, pleasure and bond for a married couple, as well as for PROCREATION

Question 10

What is the Christian attitude towards Pre-Marital Sex?

Answer 10

That it is wrong

It is against the Biblical view of marriage (e.g. Genesis - life-long commitment between two people)

Question 11

What is the Christian attitude towards Extra-Marital Sex?

Answer 11

That it is wrong

It is against the message of the Ten Commandments - Adultery is specifically condemned