Topic 3: Marriage and the Family Flashcards
3.1 Changing attitudes to marriage, divorce, the family and homosexuality
- Historical events (abolition of slavery, voting rights etc.)
- View of the world (opened peoples minds)
- Mixture of cultures (multi-fair and multi-ethnic)
- Celebrated diversity (people are more tolerant)
- Impact of TV (soap operas etc)
- Acceptance (of peoples differences)
3.2 Christian attitudes to sex outside of marriage
- ‘You shall not commit adultery’ Exodus 20:14
- ‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?’ Corinthians 6:19
- ‘The sexual act must take place exclusively within marriage. Outside marriage it always constitutes a grave sin’ The Catechism of the Catholic Church
3.2 Different Christian attitudes to sex outside marriage
- Sex outside marriage is bad; Bible doesn’t allow it, less stable family life, STD’s, unite married couples, breaks marriage vow
- All Christians think adultery is wrong however a growing number of Christians today feel that sex before marriage is acceptable if; the couple love each other, are in a long term relationship, intend to get married in the future
- Some Christians believe that cohabitation that includes sex before marriage should be allowed as a trial marriage; to discover if they really are suited for them
3.3 What is the purpose of marriage within Christianity
- Have lawful, fulfilling sex
- Be faithful to one partner and unite for life
- Have children
- Form a secure and safe environment in which to bring up children
- Provide love and companionship
- Symbolise God’s love for the church
3.3 The symbolism of marriage
- The emphasis on God’s role in the marriage makes it a spiritual agreement with God as well as a legal one.
- The couple exchange vow that promise a life-long exclusive commitment to each other.
- The verses from the Bible and the words spoken by the vicar emphasise the nature and purpose of marriage for Christians
- The congregation pray and ask for God’s blessing and support to make the marriage work.
- The exchange of rings symbolises the unending agreement of marriage
3.4 Christian attitudes to divorce
Roman Catholic
- Does not allow; Jesus said it was wrong, marriage is a sacrament, the Catechism said its not aloud
- Ennulment; They did not understand what they were doing, marriage was forced
Protestant
- Allows in some circumstances; Jesus seemed to allow for divorce in the case of unfaithfulness, humans make mistakes and relationships break down,
3.5 Christian attitudes to homosexuality
- Evangelical; strongly opposed, not good for society, cannot have child, man and woman to be married only
- Roman Catholic; remain celibate, only homosexual sex is sin, it cannot produce children
- Church of England; sympathetic although divided, God created us all his image, it’s accepts
- Other protestants; welcomes; spiritual not sexual, needs to be interpreted to suit today’s society, admired in David, Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi
3.6 Christian teaching on family life
- 10 commandments
- ‘Children, obey your parents…Parents, do not exasperate you children; instead, bring them up in the instruction of the Lord’ Ephesians 6:1-4
- Children believe that having children is one of the purposes of marriage and it’s a gift from God
- Parents have responsibilities; care, teach, baptism
3.6 How do Christian churches help families
- Start of life; Baptism
- Sunday school and youth groups
- Church/faith schools
- Family services on Sundays and key times of year
3.7 Methods of contraception
- Natural method; PROS: no physical side effects, it can be used to plan a pregnancy CONS: take 6 months to learn body’s signals, does not protect you from STI’s
- Artificial methods; the pill, condoms, coil
3.7 Why do people use contraception
- Allows them to choose when and if they want a baby
- Plan a family in their own time
- Too young or too old
- Pregnancy may be harmful mother
3.8 Different Christian attitudes to contraception
- Roman Catholics; open to the possibility of conception, ‘be fruitful and multiply’ Genesis 1:28, purpose=children, upheld and reaffirmed by Popes, increased promiscuity and STD’s
- Church of England; not regard against plan, protect woman’s heath, better standard of living, sex for pleasure, nothing in the bible to say it’s wrong
3.9 One issue from this topic and describe how it was covered in the media
Media;
- Role model, 11 million views, brave enough at peak of career, fan base=teenage girls, world has changed, could ruin reputation
Fair?;
- Judged, no reference was made about how Christians views, Evangelical=strongly opposed, ‘No man is to have sexual relations with another man; God hates that.’ Levitiuis 18:22
