SECTION 2 CHRISTIANITY- TOPIC 1.2.2 SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS Flashcards
Different types of sexual relationship
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-Premarital sex is sex before marriage. Any sexual relationship between two people who are not married is classed as premarital sex.
-Cohabitation is used to refer to two people who are living together in a sexual relationship without being married.
-Same-sex sexual relationships are classed as homosexuality, although they are usually known colloquially as gay relationships. Females in same-sex relationships are known as lesbians.
-Extramarital sex is either when a married person has a sexual relationship with someone other than their marriage partner or when an unmarried person has a sexual relationship with a married person.
Christian teachings about the nature and
importance of sexual relationships
Christianity teaches that sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed between one man and one woman who are married to each other. Christianity teaches that sex was given to humans by God for the joy, pleasure and bonding of a married couple and for the procreation of children to increase the number of followers of the christian faith.
Christian teachings about and attitudes towards sexual relationships outside marriage:
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-The Bible says that fornication (a word used in religion for both premarital sex and promiscuity) is sinful and Christians should follow the teachings of the Bible.
-The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that premarital sex is wrong and Catholics are encouraged to follow the teachings of the Church.
-All Christians are against adultery because it breaks the wedding vows to be faithful to each other.
-Christians are also against adultery because it is condemned in the Ten Commandments, which all Christians should follow.
-Adultery is condemned by Jesus in the Gospels, and all Christians should follow the teachings of Jesus.
fornication=
A word used in religion for both premarital sex and promiscuity.
Humanist and atheist attitudes to sexual
relationships
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-Sex must be consensual sex – rape in any form is seen as totally unacceptable.
-Sex must be between people ‘of age’. Paedophilia is regarded as wrong regardless of religious teachings.
-A sexual partner ought ideally to be single or separated from their partner. Non-religious people find cheating on a partner offensive.
-No payment should be involved in sex – there is still a stigma attached to prostitution.
-Sex should involve a degree of stability. High levels of promiscuity are frowned upon.
-Sex ought to be safe; given the risk of disease and pregnancy, barrier methods of contraception should be used.
Most atheists would have a similar view to Humanists, although some might not object to multiple sexual partners or payment for sex.
Homosexuality
3 key points to know
The various changes in the laws on homosexuality have made it easier to be openly homosexual and have made society more aware and accepting of homosexuality.
The increased openness of gay celebrities has led to a greater acceptance of all gay people.
The work of such organisations as Stonewall changed many people’s attitudes and led to a greater acceptance of equal rights for homosexuals.
What is the Catholic attitude to same-sex relationships?
-being H is not a sin but that homosexual
sexual relationships are sinful
-Church also teaches that it is sinful to harass homosexuals or attack their behaviour.
believe this because:
-The Bible condemns h sexual activity.
-sex for creating and not possible H couple to have sex w/ creative purpose
-CATECHISM teaches that marriage is for a M+W to join as one and raise a family.
-The Bible teaches that everyone has human dignity because they are made in the image of God, hence no bullying the H
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What is the Evangelical Protestant attitude to same-sex relationships?
H is a sin
-hold special prayer meetings to give H the power of the Spirit to change sexuality
-believe Bible is the direct Word of God, and it condemns H in some passages of both the Old and New Testaments.
-believe that the salvation of Christ can remove all sins, including H.
-that homosexuality is sinful because all the Churches taught it in the past, though some now accept H
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What is the Liberal Protestant attitude to same-sex relationships?
believe that the teachings of Bible need reinterpreting in the light of modern knowledge and that the anti-homosexual texts in the Bible are a reflection of Jewish culture at time had influence and not really
Word of God
-feel that the major Christian belief in love and acceptance means that homosexuals must be accepted.
-that Christians should be open and honest, and refusing rights to H Christians encourages to be dishonest and
hypocritical about their nature and life.
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What is the Humanist and atheist attitudes to same-sex relationships?
no problems with H couples.
-regard people’s sexuality as their own concern unless it interferes with other people’s human rights.
-have no religion then the reasons for disapproving of homosexuality disappear.
official response of the Roman Catholic Church and the conservative Protestant Churches to non-religious atittudes
official response of the Roman Catholic Church and the conservative Protestant Churches has been to condemn the non-
religious attitude and to insist that Christian H should refrain from sex and that same-sex marriages should not be legal.
-Caused major divisions in Church
official response of liberal Protestant Churches
the more liberal Protestant Churches has
been to welcome homosexuals into the Church and to allow gay clergy
to become bishops.
-Quakers in Britain give H completely
equal rights and celebrate same-sex marriages with a religious service.
-Some liberal Churches still insist that gay clergy should refrain from sexual activities.
Most Christians response to non-religious attitudes
Most Christians no longer agree with the official teachings.
- a referendum on whether to allow same-sex marriage and was approved by 62 per cent of voters
- All research seems to show that most Christians are more in line with the non-religious than with the Churches in their attitudes to H relationships.
