Marriage

Question 1

What is marriage?

Answer 1

legal union between 2 people

there must be a legal representative and registrar present

recognised in law

Question 2

What is a religious marriage?

Answer 2

-Christians believe that God unites two people together

-make vows to commit
themselves to one another

• prayers and blessings are often said
• usually long, conducted by a minister in a church

Question 3

What is a civil marriage?

Answer 3

• short ceremony with at least two witnesses
• usually at a registrar office, hotel or town hall
• they declare their marriage to the other partner

Question 4

What are the Christian purposes of marriage?

Answer 4

genesis - when people get married they become one flesh, marriage is about living life together

Matthew - “what God has joined together let no man separate”

Ephesians - a wife should love their husband as they love God, women should help men

Corinthians - marriage should be faithful and express their love emotionally and physically

Question 5

What is are the arguments against cohabitation?

couple live together in a sexual relationship without being married

Answer 5

• God created sex for marriage, where there is greater security
• commitment in marriage provides stability, particulary when a couple has children

Question 6

What is are the arguments for cohabitation?

Answer 6

• marriages are too expensive for some people
• having a trial before marriage is useful to see if the couple are compatible
• relationships that don’t work can easily be ended

Question 7

What is a civil partnership?

Answer 7

a legal registration and recognition of a same sex partnership

Question 8

What are the reasons for marital breakdown?

Answer 8

loss of romance

domestic violence

infidelity (unfaithfulness)

disappointing love-making

Question 9

What are the ways to prevent marital breakdown?

Answer 9

marriage preparation:

• helps couples learn about each other
• teaches how to deal with problems and change in a marriage

good communication

Question 10

What are the attitudes towards divorce and marriage?

Answer 10

“what God has joined together let no one separate” - divorce is wrong

Malachi - “the man who… divorces his wife… does violence to the one he should protect” - God gives husbands the responsibility to protect their wife for all their life

Church of England allows divorces in exceptional circumstances as they recognise people make mistakes

Question 11

What is the importance of family and the elderly?

Answer 11

Children can bring joy and happiness, and brought up to be valuable members of society

elderly people have wisdom

care for the elderly - Proverbs - “do not despise your mother when she is old”