Relationships and Families Flashcards
What is the purpose of families?
A place to develop loving and respectful relationships. The family unit offers a place for the nurture and disciplining of children. Parents are required to respect their children and teach them Christian values (i.e. through infant baptism and confirmation).
Catholic Church view on the importance of family
“The family is the original cell of social life” (2207)
Biblical evidence you must respect your parents
Exodus 20:12
“Honour your father and your mother”
Biblical evidence you must respect your children and teach them Christian values
Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”
What is the purpose of marriage?
Evidence of the life-long spiritual unity between the couple. The vows made during the ceremony are also made with God. Through prayer, the couple ask for God’s blessing and his presence in the relationship to make it stronger.
What are the 3 blessings offered in marriage?
- Procreation and the nurture of children
- The correct place for sexual relations
- Help and comfort during all aspects of life
What is the significance of Catholic and Orthodox marriage ceremonies?
The rite of passage created a unique and unbreakable bond between the couple. It brings God’s grace to the couple, which helps them to be faithful and be good parents.
What usually happens in Catholic and Orthodox wedding ceremonies?
A nuptial mass ceremony, in which the couple may bring the bread and wine to the altar. The active role in the sacrament, vows and liturgy help to direct the couple’s thoughts on God.
What does the Church of England believe about wedding vows and prayers?
The vows are made to God and the prayers during the service bring blessings to the couple
What happens during Church of England wedding ceremonies?
- The wedding will be announced in the Sunday church service. ‘Banns’ will be said, which asks if anyone knows why the marriage would be illegal.
- Words from the Marriage Service from Common Worship (2000)
- Vows
- Prayer
What does the Church of England believe about Church weddings?
They add a spiritual dimensions to the marriage as God is included. Anyone of any faith can get married, but the same Church of England wedding ceremony is executed.
Biblical evidence for marriage
Matthew 19:5
“A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”
Biblical evidence that marriage is for life, and divorce should only be used in the instance of adultery
Matthew 5:32
“But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery”
Examples of wedding vows
“for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part,”
What happens during Quaker weddings?
There is no minister, as they believe that only God can join the couple. They sit in silence until they feel it is the right time. A friend or relative reads the certificate. Then, they sign the certificate and worship in silence again. People are able to stand and speak as they wish. At the end, everyone signs the certificate as a witness.
What is the significance of Quaker weddings?
Emphasises the belief that the union is being made between God and the couple.
What is the advantage of non-conformist weddings?
There is much more freedom, as the couple can write their own vows, which places emphasis on what they are actually saying to God.
Which churches do not carry out civil partnerships and why?
Catholic + Church of England
Because they believe marriage is the only correct place for sexual relationships.
Which churches do not carry out same sex marriages and why?
Catholic + Church of England
The Catholic Church believes that it will have harmful effects on society by undermining the value of heterosexual marriage. The Church of England allows members to have same sex marriages, but will not perform the ceremony.
Example of a Church which performs same sex marriages
The Episcopal Church, a branch of the Anglican Church in the United States, as they believe marriage is a committed relationship in which love can be securely expressed.
What is cohabitation?
When a couple lives together without being married
Why do many Christians believe premarital sex is wrong?
Its purpose is to create new life and is a God-give expression of love between 2 people, therefore, it should only happen in marriage.
Why does the Church of England accept cohabitation?
It is a step towards marriage, and the Bible teaches that sex should only happen in a committed relationship.
Why is the Catholic Church against cohabitation?
Every time an act of sex occurs there should be the possibility for new life, therefore, sex outside of marriage is considered as wrong.
What is celibacy?
Remaining unmarried and abstaining from sexual relationships.
In, the bible, who was notoriously celibate?
Paul the apostle
Why does the Catholic Church require monks, nuns and priests to be celibate?
It is a gift that allow you to better share the love of God, rather than being with the love you would otherwise have for your wife and children.
What are the 2 forms on contraception?
Natural and artificial
Which denomination teaches artificial contraception is wrong?
The Catholic Church
Catholic exception to not using artificial contraception
A cardinal said it would be the lesser of 2 evils if one of the couple had HIV/AIDS and could pass it on to the other.
What is abstinence?
Abstaining from sex until marriage
Organisation that promotes abstinence
Teen-Aid
Biblical evidence for abstinence
1 Corinthians 6:19
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit”
What does the Catholic Church believe about divorce?
God does not accept divorce, so divorce is only the breaking of the legal binding. The Catholic Church refuses to carry out divorces, or remarry those who have been divorced.
What is an annulment?
When the marriage is considered valid because the vows were not valid.
Does the Catholic Church perform annulments?
Yes. People are free to remarry afterwards.
What is the Church of England view on divorce?
Sometimes it is impossible for a couple to remain together, so divorces are permitted. People are also free to remarry, but it is up to the priest over whether to hold the marriage in the Church of England. It varies upon the reasoning and efforts made in the first marriage.
Biblical evidence against re-marriage
Mark 10:11-12
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery”
What is Christian complementarianism?
The belief that men and women were created differently to fulfil different but complementary roles in the family
What is Christian egalitarianism?
The belief that men and women were created as equals
Which Church holds complementarianist views, and which Church holds egalitarianist views?
Catholics hold complementarianist views, the Church of England leans towards egalitarianist views
Why does the Catholic Church only appoint men as priests and bishops?
- Jesus chose men as disciples
- Priests represent Jesus (a man) when celebrating mass
- The authority of the Church has been passed on through men, this tradition should not be broken
Why would egalitarianist Christians appoint women as priests and bishops?
- Jesus came to break barriers between people
- Jesus was following the traditions of his time, today, he might include women in his disciples
- God created women in his image too
Biblical evidence for complementarianism
Colossians 3:18–19
“ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them”
1 Timothy 2:11–14
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner”
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
“Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church”
What does the Bible teach about raising children?
You must discipline your children and bring them up as obedient, well behaved people, as well as with a knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith.
What things might a Christian family typically do?
- Infant baptism
- Confirmation
- Grace before meals
- Sunday School
Example divergent view on raising children that incorporates complementarianism
Amish
What is prejudice?
Judging something before knowing all the facts
Beliefs about equality
Everyone is created in God’s image, therefore everyone inherits perfect characteristics and everyone has equal individual worth and value, therefore, we should respect all other human beings.
Influence of culture on equality
Historically, inequality has benefited members of the Church, so there was no effort to change it. For example, in the 19th and 20th centuries, Christian teachings were used to justify the unequal distribution of wealth.
How are Christian beliefs and teachings about equality applied
Christians believe that all humans are equal, but may believe that they must perform mission and evangelise others as all other religions must be wrong.
Biblical evidence that everyone is equal
James 2:9
“But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers”
Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
