Sexual Ethics (1) Flashcards
What case of using sex as power does Joseph Fletcher consider? (Quote)
- Whether a young woman should sleep with a foreign married agent to blackmail him
“It’s like your bother risking his life or limb in Korea” - She was told this and it exemplifies the power of sex and how its more than a physical act
How is marriage linked to sexual relations in Christianity?
- Traditionally it was seen as for procreation
- Union of man and woman mirrors union of God and the world allowing for a loving relationship
What are Aquinas’ and Augustines’ proposed ‘Goods of marriage’?
1) Procreation: Marriage is for the procreation of children
2) Nurture: Children need to be nurtured, so the marriage should have companionship and love
3) Control of Sex: Sex outside the marriage would result in instability for children, therefore marriage is monogamous, heterosexual and life long
Quote the Catechism on marriage?
“The vocation of marriage is written… from the hand of the creator”
What is sacrament and how is it related to traditional Christian conception of marriage?
- A highly religious moment where there are various outwards and visible signs which represent inwards spiritual changes brought about by Gods grace
Quote Jesus in Mark on the nature and purpose of marriage as sacrament?
- “they are no longer two, but one flesh… let no one separate”
- marriage is a transformation brought about God as a new creation
- ‘one flesh’, the couple are spiritually one, implying life long infidelity
On what grounds does St Paul allow divorce? (Quote)
- Permits divorce in a mixed marriage where a Christian man has married a non-Christian
“if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so” - Corinthians
What does Jesus allow divorce for? (Quote)
- Porneia, the greek word for adultery, unchastity and unfaithfulness
- Forbids it except for
- “anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity… adultery” - Matthew
What is the New Testaments, Roman Catholics and Aglican’s two parts of Sacrament?
The external symbols:
- e.g words spoken (vows), tokens exchanged (rings)
The internal spiritual essence:
- Where the couple become ‘one flesh’, excludes divorce
- Only annulment can cause divorce, on technical reasons
What is Covenant in Christian Marriage?
- Protestant Christians believe there is a spiritual change in the relationship
- A union of minds and bodies in creation of a loving environment for children to flourish
- Divorce is possible at breakdown of the marriage but remarriage is controversial
What has shifted the focus of marriage to companionship?
- In the past marriage has been for women to gain an income and for land
- With contraception, women rights and shifting attitude there is a greater focus on marrying for companionship
How did Anglican Jeremy Taylor argue for Christian Marriage as companionate?
- He argued that marriage is the ‘queen of friendships’ as it expresses the human emotionally, spiritually and morally
- All friendships are in a sense ‘marriage’ because Christianity is in a ‘religion of friendship’
- This view accounts for secularism, attitude to divorce and sexual practices
What is Traditional Christian views on Premarital Sex? (Quote St Paul)
- It is forbidden as both sacramental and covenantal ideas of marriage require intercourse as the consummation of marriage
- “For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion” - Corinthians
- Sexual intercourse was considered the transmission of the original sin by St Augustine
Why is Premarital Sex not a big deal in the modern era?
- Contraception is much more advanced
- Society rejects the traditional Christian views towards sex
- Cohabitating is not considered a sin
Why has cohabitation developed?
- With contraception and increased equality in the workplace women do not rely on men for financial reasons and have greater sexual freedom
- This leads to a lower need for marriage
- In Western Societies men no longer provide the emotional and financial stability they once did through marriage
What are the 3 types of cohabitation?
- Casual Cohabitation
- Trial Marriage Cohabitation
- Substitute marriage and ideological cohabitation
What is Casual Cohabitation?
- Least formal with a lack of long term commitment
- Can contain casual sexual relationships and extend to them living together for common sexual and social reasons
What is Trial Marriage Cohabitation?
- Many couples regard living together before marriage as essential
- This is a short term arrangement to confirm compatibility before the big step of marriage
What is Substitute Marriage and Ideological Cohabitation?
- For those who opt for a long term relationship without marriage
- For those who are excluded from marriage
- For those who have ideological reasons to not marry
What is the Christian outlook on cohabitation?
- Conservative Christians would say it is unacceptable as marriage provided the most stability for family and sexual life
- Liberal Christians would allow for trial marriage cohabitation as marriage is not a one day process
- Increasing attitude that the Church must take on secular attitudes to stay in society
What Bishop allowed for trial marriage cohabitation?
- Bishop of York, John Sentamu
- He publicly supported Prince William and Kate Middletons cohabitation as a sensible means of testing their desire to marry
Quote Anthony Harvey on Extramarital Sex?
“social consequences of adulterous relationships… too damaging”
What is the Old Testament view on Extramarital relations? (Quote)
- Adultery in the OT carried the death penalty
“both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death”
In the Old Testament who was regarded as at fault for Extramarital Relations?
- Women were regarded as temptresses and at fault
- Women could be immediately divorced by their husband but they could not do the same 1
What was Jesus’ outlook on Extramarital Sex in Johns gospel? (Quote)
- He did not condone either adultery or the death penalty
- When he saw people stoning a woman for adultery he said “without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”
- He showed that the impure cannot punish but also shunned the lady
How does the Church today view Extramarital Sex?
- Remains a serious breach of marriage vows
- Equal responsibility on both husband and wife
- Seen as grounds for divorce and annulment in some cases
What are the different views on remarriage after Extramarital relations?
- Liberal Christians emphasise understanding why the vows were broken and to allow remarriage if they are ready to commit
- Conservative Protestants and the RCC disallow remarriage as they take the scripture seriously
- Some Churches take Jesus’ apparent ban on divorce and marriage as a mere reinforcement of the seriousness of marriage, not a definite ban
