Relationships- thematic studies

Question 1

Purpose of marriage for Christians

Answer 1

• God’s intention for us all to be “one flesh”
  -Lifelong
  -Proper place for a mutually respectful sexual relationship
• God’s gift to create Adam and Eve as married pair

Question 2

Cohabitation + Christianity

Answer 2

• people see it as a trial marriage
• others choose to never marry
• Orthodox + Catholic view it as a sin: sexual immorality as you are living intimately with partner

Question 3

Purpose of marriage in Buddhism

Answer 3

• Marriage is not a religious duty or act.
• More secular, not important
• Having children is not viewed as important purpose of marriage
• Everything is interrelated and interdependent. Strong trusting relationships are important for wellbeing of community and society as a whole.
• Buddhists are not expected to feel any religious obligation or pressure to have children.

Question 4

Sex before and outside marriage (Buddhism)

Answer 4

• Not forbidden in Buddhism
• Most important thing is to live by five moral precepts, make sure sexual acts are kind and respectful
• Most Buddhists would regard adultery as unskilful as it involves dishonesty, which does not show kindness towards feeling of person being cheated on
• Choice to wait till marriage is personal reason, influenced by local customs and traditions

Question 5

Christianity on divorce (for):

Answer 5

• Our duty is to care for people and not let them suffer in negative surroundings
• Forgiveness is a large part of Christianity. It is not our place to condemn and judge others
• Best place for Children is a loving, happy situation, quality of relationship is crucial

Question 6

Christianity on divorce (against):

Answer 6

• Christians see marriage as a gift from God, meaning divorcing is not appreciating his gift
• God believes people should not be alone “it is not good that man should be alone”
• Marriage is a lifelong commitment
• Marriage is specifically believed to have children, other issues cannot outweigh original importance
• Legal piece of paper cannot break a religious marriage (witnessed and approved by God)
• Divorce ruins families- children need two parents
• You must not always divorce. Just be separate and live apar.
• God designed Adam and Eve as married pair
• Jesus’ sermon on the mount laid down strict rules that divorce should not happen.

Question 7

Annulment

Answer 7

Declaration that marriage was not true in the first place and was never valid

Question 8

Remarriage in Church of England

Answer 8

• If a couple wish to get remarried, they have to ask the priest if they can use their church.

Question 9

Two things considered before allowing remarriage

Answer 9

1. Reason why they broke up
2. Their idea of marriage

Question 10

Divorce views Buddhism:

Answer 10

• No law stating husband cannot be separated if they cannot live together
• More common to get married later in life, when more mature and certain about needs in relationship
• Traditionally not approved of by society, so couples put more effort tyring to mend relationships.
• Only considered when no longer possible to reconcile relationship.
• Best way to go about it is sensibly and sensitively
• Clinging to attachment which produces suffering goes against Buddha’s teachings.

Question 10

Homosexuality quote against Christianity

Answer 10

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an abomination.”

“all other frenzies of lusts which exceeds laws of nature…we banish”

Question 11

Buddhist perspective on Human sexuality

Answer 11

• Sex is not inherently wrong, shameful but a human drive
• Should be approached ethically to ensure we avoid acting out purely out of craving
• No teaching against homosexuality
  In all human sexuality, what matters is quality of relationship. Consent + respect shows karuna and metta.

Question 12

Why would liberal Christians support same sex marriages on religious grounds:

Answer 12

• Probably follow bible liberally, meaning part of the bible should be inferred.
• Liberal Christians believe in agape and God as omnibenevolent, he would never punish humans for natural feelings.
• Would never encourage prejudice against gay people as that shows hate. Not how God would behave.

Question 13

Christian view on homosexuality

Answer 13

“be fruitful”
- Adam and Eve

Question 14

Catholic and Orthodox perspective on Sex

Answer 14

• every time couple have sex, possibility of having children
• homosexual couples must remain celibate, showing “right qualities” of a couple
• Sex’s purpose is to populate the earth

Question 15

Church of England on sex

Answer 15

• Physical expression of love shared within marriage
• Cohabitating couples are just as committed, making steps towards marriage
• Homosexual should be faithful + committed, but penetrative sex is outlawed in Bible.

Question 16

Sexual acts always seen as immoral

Answer 16

• Promiscuity
• Adultery
• Sexual sin

Question 17

Contraception

Answer 17

Act of preventing pregnancy from occurring

Question 18

Religious belief in favour of contraception

Answer 18

• God is “omnibenevolent”, if pregnancy is life threatening/ will cause harm, contraception is allowed
• Family planning
• God wants us to be responsible parents who raise children properly
• Some situations may mean it is more compassionate to not have children
• Having children is not a religious duty in Buddhism

Question 19

Non religious belief in favour of contraception

Answer 19

• To prevent diseases from spreading
• Protects wellbeing and safety
• Financial issues, job, time
• Develop relationships safely.
• Allows people to be responsible in family, parents are emotionally and financially planning to bring child into world.

Question 20

Religious belief against contraception

Answer 20

• Ideally you should not have sex before marriage
• Intention of sex is to have children, should never be used for anything else
• Contraception might be seen as “murder”
• Against bible teaching “be fruitful”
• No need as believers should be restrained and in control of sexual urges.

Question 21

Non religious beliefs against contraception

Answer 21

• Contraception could be argued to promote sex, leading to “sleeping around”
• Leads to people devaluing the importance of sex

Question 22

Nature of family Christianity

Answer 22

• Greatest commandment is love
• Love is learnt through family, Christians place high regard on family
• Some Christians disapprove of same sex as they believe children need to be raised by both mother and father.
• Others may believe values and security of family is more important than make up of family

Question 23

Christian quote on family

Answer 23

“Honour your father and mother”
“Children obey your parents in everything”

Question 24

Nature of families in Buddhism

Answer 24

• Procreation and marriage are personal choices
• Culturally influenced by country Buddhists are in
• Buddha taught that family should be based on love and respect
• Family should not cause suffering

Question 25

Purpose of religious family

Answer 25

• Procreation
• Stability for each other and society
• Respect and care
  -protection
• Educate children in good morals

Question 26

Gender equality Christianity quotes against

Answer 26

“wives be submissive to your husbands”
“the women should keep silent in church”

Question 27

Gender equality Christian view

Answer 27

• “All human being are created alike in the image of God. She is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life”
  “Men and women rely on each other. God made them equal partners in life”

Question 28

Gender equality in Buddhism

Answer 28

• women were low in society at the time, lives being restricted, no education as place was at home
• Teachings are inconsistent, all have potential to enlightenment but initially refused to ordain women as nuns.
• Although gender equality exists and is preached, it is still less regarded in more conservative traditions and countries.

Question 29

Anatta linked to gender equality

Answer 29

• Idea that people do not have fixed permanent soul. Shows our physical body is insignificant in gaining enlightenment. Action is more important than looks.

Question 30

Archbishop quote on cohabitation

Answer 30

“test the milk before they buy the cow”

Question 31

Same sex marriages in Buddhism

Answer 31

• Currently illegal in Asia
  -Buddhist teachings are not against same sex marriage
• In places such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, there have been recent challenged o the law, to promote view that right to marriage should be equally available for hetero/homo sexuals.