Personal And Family Issues

Question 1

Define:
Homosexual
Heterosexual
Virgin
Celibacy 
Chastity 
Civil partnership

Answer 1

Homosexual: someone who is sexually attracted to someone of the same sex
Heterosexual: someone who is sexually attracted to someone of the opposite sex
Virgin: someone who has never had sexual relations
Celibacy: remaining unmarried and without sexual relations for religious reasons
Chastity: to abstain from sexual relationships
Civil relationship: A non-religious same-sex partnership, similar to marriage, which is recognised by the state.

Question 2

What does the bible say on homosexuality?

Answer 2

It is clear that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible and that God intended sex to be enjoyed by a married man and woman. However, it is important to notice that its condemnation is often grouped with other issues such as sex outside marriage, lying, trading of slaves and promise breaking.

Question 3

What are the Christian viewpoints on homosexuality?

Answer 3

Some Christians:
•completely condemn it because the bible says that “men who have sex with men” will not enter the kingdom of god
•only condemn those who act on their feelings
•think that acting on homosexual feelings is wrong but recognise that all Christians are
sinners and don’t think homosexual people should be focused on
•think it is perfectly acceptable for a Christian to be in a homosexual relationship

Question 4

3 homosexual Christian movements?

Answer 4

• The Lesbian and Gay Christian movement
• The Evangelical Christian movement for Lesbian and Gay Christians
• Changing Attitudes Ireland (CAI)

Question 5

What does the Roman Catholic Church say about homosexuality?

Answer 5

• Based on scripture, homosexual acts cannot be approved of; however, people with homosexual tendencies must be treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity.
• They should not be discriminated against.
• They are called to live God’s will and if they are Christians they should accept the sacrifice as homosexual persons are called to chastity.

Question 6

What does the church of Ireland say on homosexuality?

Answer 6

• Homosexual acts regarded as ‘incompatible with Scripture’

- Most Church of Ireland parishes are opposed to homosexual practice.

Question 7

What does the Presbyterian church say on homosexuality?

Answer 7

• Sometimes young people can become confused about their sexuality.
• They may need help to understand and work through deeper-seated issues before they can come to terms with their sexual identity.

Question 8

4 reasons why people have sex before marriage?

Answer 8

• The desire to make their partner feel loved
• To experiment living with and having a sexual relationship with someone before they marry them
• A strong sexual desire and the wish to carry this out in consensual relationships
• To gain acceptance with another person or approval from others

Question 9

What are the 6 different types of family?

Answer 9

Nuclear
Cohabiting couple
Lone-parent
Re-constituted or blended
Same sex couple
Extended or multi-family

Question 10

What is a nuclear family?

Answer 10

The most common type of family in the UK Consists of husband and wife living in the family home with their children

Question 11

What is a cohabiting couple?

Answer 11

The couple and their children live together but the couple are not married.

Question 12

What is a lone-parent family?

Answer 12

Made up of one parent and a child/children. It may be due to a decision not to marry or co-habit; or it may be the result of divorce, separation or death. In the UK 86% were headed by females in 2016.

Question 13

What is a re-constituted or blended family?

Answer 13

This consists of a parent who decides to marry or live with a new partner, following separation, divorce or death, and combine their two families. The family may include step-brothers or sisters or half-brothers or sisters.

Question 14

What is a same sex couple?

Answer 14

Consists of a same-sex couple and their children. The couple may be married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting. Children could belong to one biologically, be adopted or be from a surrogate.

Question 15

What is an extended or multi-family?

Answer 15

Consists of a same-sex couple and their children. The couple may be married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting. Children could belong to one biologically, be adopted or be from a surrogate.

Question 16

Why is a family unit so important?

Answer 16

•Protection: Children depend on their family to protect them and provide for their needs. A family unit provides a safe environment for bringing up children.
•Support: Healthy family life provides emotional, physical and
social support. This support helps people through times of difficulty and contributes to a healthy society.
•Care: Families care for their relatives when they are sick, have a disability or are too elderly to look after themselves.
•Companionship: a family unit helps prevents people from feeling alone
•Behaviour: The family environment is where children first learn to interact with other people. It is where people learn good manners, the importance of give and take, the difference between right and wrong, and how society expects people to behave.
•Values: A positive family environment will instil values such as tolerance, respect and charity. These are all beneficial in a well-ordered society.
•Identity: Most families teach their children their beliefs and pass on their religious, political and cultural traditions. This helps to shape people’s opinions, behaviour and identities. A healthy society is one where there is respect for the beliefs of others.

Question 17

What advice does the bible give on parenting?

Answer 17

• “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them”
• ”Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire”
• However, Colossians and Ephesians also warns fathers against embittering their children in case they become discouraged. Children are regarded as a blessing from God and parents should do their best to bring children up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
• “And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6”If anyone causes one of these little ones-those who believe in me-to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
• ”When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Question 18

How should parents discipline their children, according to the church?

Answer 18

1. Teaching their children to pray. This might mean learning the Lord’s Prayer, saying grace before meals and praying together as a family.
2. Children learn by example; this can be bad as well as good. It is up to parents to set a good example for their children to follow, both in what they say and in what they do.
3. This can be something as simple as having one meal together a day, so that family members can talk about what is going on in their lives. It is also a time to put the mobile phone away! Pope Francis highlighted technology’s impact on relationships: “we know that sometimes they [smartphones] can keep people apart rather than together, as when at dinnertime everyone is surfing on a mobile phone”
4. Christian parents are encouraged to teach their children the Christian faith. They do this through Bible study in the home and/ or by taking their children to church.
5. In the Church of Ireland, the Catholic, the Methodist and the Presbyterian Churches, parents can choose to have their children baptised as babies or infants. When a child is baptised he or she is welcomed into the family of the church. It is hoped that when the child is old enough to decide for him or herself that they will choose to continue to follow the Christian faith.

Question 19

Definition of marriage?

Answer 19

Marriage is the legal binding of a relationship between a man and a woman.

Question 20

What does the bible say about marriage?

Answer 20

Genesis- marriage is sacred. God created marriage and intends men and women to become ‘one’ through marriage.
Exodus- Marriage must be exclusive. Adultery is condemned in the 10 Commandments.
1 Corinthians- “ A man should fulfil his duty as a husband, and a woman should fulfil her duty as a wife, and each should satisfy the other’s needs”. Partners should be prepared to put each other’s life before their own.
Ephesians- Marriage should be built on love and respect. In Paul’s letter to Ephesus he compared the love between a man and a woman to the love which Christ has for the Church.

Question 21

What does the church say about marriage?

Answer 21

Sacred - The Roman Catholic Church state: “…the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws…God himself is the author of marriage.
Permanent - The Methodist Church describes marriage as “a life-long union in body, mind and spirit, of one man and one woman.”
Exclusive - The Presbyterian Church describes marriage as: “a life- long partnership of man and wife with absolute faithfulness the one to the other.”
Pro-creation of children - The Church of Ireland suggests: “One of the functions of marriage is to provide a stable family unit, within the wider community, in which children can be born and nurtured.”

Question 22

Definition of divorce?

Answer 22

Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court.

Question 23

What does the bible say about divorce?

Answer 23

• ”So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
• ”The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD, “does violence to the one he should protect”
• ”a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
• ”But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.”
• ”if anyone divorces his wife, for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also.”

Question 24

What does the church say about divorce?

Answer 24

•Roman Catholic Church
-Divorce is not allowed because marriage is a sacrament which cannot be dissolved or ended.
-Even if a couple get a civil (legal) divorce, Roman Catholics believe they are still married in the eyes of God and are not allowed to remarry.
-If circumstances are difficult, the couple is permitted to live apart but they must not form a new relationship as this would be considered to be adulterous.
•Presbyterian, Church of Ireland and Methodist Church
-They all accept civil divorce as an end to marriage. They allow remarriage of divorced people in Church, but only if the minister is prepared to perform the ceremony.