Religion and Human Relationships

Question 1

What does ‘Contraception’ mean?

Answer 1

The deliberate use of artificial or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse

Question 2

What does ‘Celibate’ mean?

Answer 2

The act of being unmarried, especially because of religious vows

Question 3

What does ‘Sacrament’ mean?

Answer 3

An outward physical sign, of an inward invisible grace

Question 4

What does ‘Annulment’ mean?

Answer 4

A declaration that a marriage was never a proper marriage in the eyes of the church, due to being forced to marry, under-aged, consummated etc.

Question 5

What does ‘Consummate’ mean?

Answer 5

The act of making a marriage or relationship complete with sexual intercourse

Question 6

What does ‘Divorce’ mean?

Answer 6

The legal ending of a marriage

Question 7

What does ‘Abstinence’ mean?

Answer 7

The voluntary act of withholding from sexual intercourse

Question 8

What does ‘Adultery’ mean?

Answer 8

Having sexual intercourse with someone you are not married to

Question 9

What does ‘Monogamy’ mean?

Answer 9

Being married and faithful to one person

Question 10

What does ‘Polygamy’ mean?

Answer 10

When a man or woman has multiple husbands or wives

Question 11

What does ‘Promiscuity’ mean?

Answer 11

When a person has multiple sexual partners

Question 12

What does ‘Cohabitation’ mean?

Answer 12

When a couple lives together without being married

Question 13

What does ‘Marriage’ mean?

Answer 13

Marriage is a civil and a religious commitment that is legally recognised

Question 14

What are the Christian views on the roles of men and women in a Christian family?

Answer 14

Modern Christian views:

x Men and Women are equal
x Look to the creation story: ‘God created mankind in his own image’ ‘Men and Women he created them’
x St Paul said ‘there is neither male or female for you are one in Christ Jesus’
x Some Christians look to the gospels as a guide to how women should be treated in society
x Women were present at the foot of Jesus’ cross when the rest of his disciples hid in fear
x Women were the first people to discover Jesus’ tomb was empty

Traditional Christian views:

x Women inferior to men (men are considered head of the family)
x Eve was made from Adams rib
x Called ‘woman’ because taken out of a man
x Women considered weaker, Eve after talking to the serpent, picks the fruit and gives it to Adam (men don’t give in to temptation as easily)
x Bible tells men to ‘treat them with respect as the weaker partner’

Question 15

What are the Christian views on the roles of men and women in the church?

Answer 15

x Orthodox and Roman Catholics do not permit women priests
x Some Christians say that Jesus chose 12 male disciples and therefore only men should be leaders in church
x Church of England had their first female priest in 1994
x St Paul said that women should stay silent in church
x Baptists and Methodists allow women to become ordained as ministers

Question 16

What takes place at a wedding ceremony?

Answer 16

x Beginning of the service: Welcoming of the congregation and a statement of what Christians marriage means by the priest
x Declarations: The couple make their promises in front of God that they will love, comfort, honour and protect their partner as long as they both shall live
x Vows: The couple make their vows to each other
x Rings: The couple exchange rings, the ring is a symbol of unending love. Christian marriage is meant to be for life.
x Proclamation: The priest tells the couple they are now husband and wife. The priest says “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”
x Prayers: Prayers are said for the couple. They may include a prayer for the gift of children.
x Readings and sermon: There will be readings from the Bible and a sermon. The sermon will often talk about the importance of love in marriage.
x Signing of the register: The bride and groom, along with two witnesses, sign the register, which is a legal requirement. They receive a legally binding marriage certificate.

Question 17

What does the Catholic Church teach about marriage?

Answer 17

x A living sacrament: an outward sign of the love of God
x Exclusive: it is just between two people
x Permanent: the couple cannot be separated
x Life giving: open to the possibility of children

Question 18

What are some symbols in a wedding?

Answer 18

Rings: never ending love
Wedding dress: often white to symbolise purity
Tying the knot: the couple are symbolically tied together for life in God’s eyes

Question 19

What are the types of families?

Answer 19

Nuclear family: Two parents live with one or more children in the same house
Reconstituted family: Where a couple has divorced or a partner has died, and they have remarried bringing their children up in the new relationship
One parent family: One parent brings up a child/children by themselves

Question 20

What are Christian beliefs on Same-sex relationships?

Answer 20

x In many places in the Old and New Testament homosexuality is condemned: ‘Homosexual acts are an abomination to God’
x Many Christian churches condemn same-sex relationships
x Quakers are less judgemental about homosexuality and allow homosexual couples to get married in their meeting rooms

Question 21

What are Christian views on divorce?

Answer 21

x Christian couples enter marriage with the expectation that it will last ‘till death do us part’
x Jesus taught that marriage is for life
x Catholic church does not allow divorce but permits a couple to live apart
x Church of England permits divorce, because Jesus also taught that the right course of action is the most loving thing to do
x The Orthodox church permits divorce
x Jesus permitted divorce if one or both were unfaithful
x The marriage can be annulled if it can be proven that the couple were under-aged, forced to marry, or not consummated

Question 22

What are Christians beliefs on re-marriage?

Answer 22

x Roman Catholics do not accept re-marriage after divorce
x Any re-marriage is considered the same as adultery
x Church of England allows divorced couples to remarry but leaves it to the discretion of the priest, because some don’t believe it’s right

Question 23

What are Christian beliefs on sexual relationships?

Answer 23

x Christians believe sex is a gift from God
x Christians believe sex is an expression of love between husband and wife
x They believe casual sexual encounters are wrong
x One of the Ten Commandments forbids ‘adultery’
x Jesus said ‘anyone who looks to a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’
x Many Roman Catholics and Evangelical Protestants believe that a person should remain virgin until marriage
x Quakers are no -judgemental about sex, which they see as a gift from God

Question 24

What are Christian beliefs on contraception?

Answer 24

x Roman Catholics reject the idea of artificial birth control
x The church teaches that marriage should be open to the possibility of children
x Rhythm method is a natural type of contraception that relies upon the woman’s monthly cycle
x Other christian churches believe that marriage should be open to the possibility of children but don’t see anything wrong with using contraception to limit the size of their family

Question 25

What are Christian beliefs on marriage?

Answer 25

x Christians should marry christians, people who are not would weaken your faith
x God said that ‘man should not be alone’ and created Eve for Adam
x Some Christians believe that it is part of Gods plan that we procreate