Unit 1: Marriage And The Family

Question 1

Civil partnership definition.

Answer 1

A legal ceremony giving a homosexual couple the same legal rights as a husband and wife.

Question 2

Cohabitation definition.

Answer 2

Living together without being married.

Question 3

Contraception definition.

Answer 3

Intentionally preventing pregnancy from occurring.

Question 4

Faithfulness definition.

Answer 4

Staying with your marriage partner and having sex only with them.

Question 5

Homosexuality definition.

Answer 5

Sexual attraction to the same sex.

Question 6

Nuclear family definition.

Answer 6

Mother, father and children living as a unit.

Question 7

Pre-marital sex definition.

Answer 7

Sex before marriage.

Question 8

Procreation definition.

Answer 8

Making a new life.

Question 9

Promiscuity definition.

Answer 9

Having sex with a number of partners without commitment.

Question 10

Re-constituted family definition.

Answer 10

Where two sets of children (step-brothers and step-sisters) become one family when their divorced parents marry each other.

Question 11

Re-marriage definition.

Answer 11

Marrying again after being divorced from a previous marriage.

Question 12

Adultery definition.

Answer 12

A sexual act between a married person and someone other than their marriage partner.

Question 13

Stigma definition.

Answer 13

Negative judgements about it.

Question 14

Previous attitudes to marriage and family.

Answer 14

1960s - UK - People were only expected to have sex after marriage - was frowned upon to have sex before marriage.
People married quite young in a church and usually to spend their whole lives together.
They had a nuclear family - husband, wife, child.
Male homosexuality was a criminal offence. Up until 1967 it was illegal to be homosexual. After this, they had to be 21 to have sexual relations with a partner, but not it’s 16.

Question 15

How attitudes to marriage and family have changed.

Answer 15

Most people have sex before marriage.
Many cohabit rather than marry.
Average age for marriage has gone up.
Not everyone gets married in a church/place of worship.
Divorce is accepted as a normal part of life - less stigma.
Extended families are more common.
Society as a whole, is now more accepting of homosexual sex and marriage.
Because there is more divorce, there are more single parents and re-constituted families.

Question 16

What are Muslim attitudes to homosexuality?

Answer 16

Islam is strongly against homosexuality.
It is seen as a grave sin.
Under Shariah law it is punishable by death.
One Hadith of the Prophet goes as far as saying “Kill the one that it is being done to”.
Some Muslims accept homosexuality as Islam is a religion of tolerance.

Question 17

What is the Muslim view of sex outside of marriage and adultery?

Answer 17

Most Muslims believe that sex before marriage is wrong.
It is forbidden in the Qur’an.
The Shariah law says sex should only take place within marriage.
Sex is for procreation.

Adultery is forbidden in the Qur’an.
It breaks the contracts of marriage.
Harms the family emotionally.

Question 18

What do most Christians believe about sex outside of marriage?

Answer 18

Most Christians believe that it’s wrong.
The Bible says that premarital sex and promiscuity is sinful.
Christian teachings say God gave humans sex for procreation of children, so that children can be brought up in a Christian family - sex should only take place within marriage.
The Catholic Catechism teaches that premarital sex is wrong - Catholics should obey this.

Question 19

What do some Christians believe about sex outside marriage?

Answer 19

Some Christians:
Accept that couples may live together before marriage, but if they were to start a family they should do so when married.
They would also only accept a sexual relationship between two people who are committed in a very long term relationship.
Times have changed since the bible - old fashions, outdated
Perhaps the Bible was trying to stop unwanted pregnancies - now we have contraception.

Question 20

What is the Christian attitude for adultery?

Answer 20

All Christians are against adultery.
It breaks the wedding vows to be faithful.
It is condemned in the Ten Commandments.
Jesus condemned adultery in the gospels.

Question 21

What do Christians believe about family life?

Answer 21

The main purpose of Christian marriage is to have children and bring them up in a secure and loving Christian environment.
Christian teaching on divorce makes it clear that Christian parents should stay together and bring up their children together because family is important.
The family is the place where children learn the difference between right and wrong.
Roman Catholic priests, nuns and monks leave their families to serve God.

Question 22

What are Muslim attitudes of family life?

Answer 22

On the Last Day, Muslims will be judged on how well they’ve brought up their children.
The Prophet Muhammad married and raised a family.
The family is the place where children learn the difference between right and wrong.
Family is where children are introduced to Islam.

Question 23

What is the Evangelical Protestant view of homosexuality?

Answer 23

Most Evangelical Protestants believe that homosexuality is a sin.
They believe that the Bible is the direct word of God and the Bible condemns homosexuality.
They believe that the salvation of Christ can remove all sins including homosexuality, so homosexuality is a sin.
All churches have taught that homosexuality is wrong, so Christians shouldn’t accept it.

Question 24

What is the Catholic view of homosexuality?

Answer 24

Being homosexual is not a sin because it is in the Catechism.
Homosexual sexual relationships are a sin because the bible condemns all homosexual sexual activity.
All forms of homophobia are condemned because homosexuality is natural (they can’t control it) therefore discriminating against them is similar to racism, which the church regards as sinful.
Homosexuals should live without any sexual activity because sex is for procreation.

Question 25

What is the Liberal Protestant view of homosexuality?

Answer 25

They think the anti-homosexual teachings in the bible should be revised. They think that’s it’s the word of Jewish culture, not God.
Christians believe in love and acceptance. Therefore homosexuals should be accepted.
Inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit as well as the bible. If the spirit approves of their relationship, it’s okay.
Christians should be open and honest, refusing rights to homosexuals encourages homosexuals to lie about their sexuality.

Question 26

What is the Catholic view of divorce and remarriage?

Answer 26

The Catholic Church doesn’t allow divorce or remarriage.
Jesus taught that divorce is wrong in Mark’s Gospel and Christians should follow the teachings of Jesus. The couple have made a covenant with God in the sacrament of marriage and the covenant can’t be broken by an earthly power.
The Church teaches in the Catechism that a marriage cannot be dissolved and so religious divorce is impossible. Catholics should follow the teachings of the church.
As religious divorce isn’t allowed, neither is religious re-marriage because this is adultery and bigamy, which are sins.

Question 27

What are some Christian views of divorce and remarriage?

Answer 27

Some churches allow some to divorce and remarry.
Jesus allowed divorce in Mathew 19:9 for a partners adultery, so Jesus showed that divorce can happen.
They believe that in certain situations Christians should choose the ‘lesser of two evils’. If a marriage has broken down, the effects of a couple not divorcing is a greater evil.
Christians are allowed forgiveness and forgiveness should be applied to divorce and remarriage too. So people should be allowed another chance at marriage if they’re determined to make it work.
Churches teach that it is better to divorce than live in hatred and Christians follow the teachings of their Church.

Question 28

Why should contraception be used?

Answer 28

Prevents STDs/STIs
Prevents unwanted pregnancies
Reduces abortion rate
Reduces teenage pregnancy rate - reduces government money spent on this
Adds responsibility
Improves quality of life - a baby will be planned and born into a financially and emotionally stable environment with support
Allows you to enjoy the pleasure of sex
Family planning
Allows women more freedom - career focus etc.

Question 29

Why should contraception not be used?

Answer 29

Health risks
Could lead to promiscuity
Religious views
Sex is for procreation
Unnatural
Some see it as a form of abortion
De-population
Could prevent humans being formed who could make a difference to our lives - they could find the cure to cancer etc.

Question 30

What is the Catholic attitude to contraception?

Answer 30

Against artificial contraception, suggest the use of natural contraception.
Many popes have spoken against the use of artificial contraception, but they promote natural contraception.
Artificial contraception separates the unitive and creative aspects of sex, which is not what God intended.
Some contraception have abortive effects and so are against the teachings of the Church.

Question 31

What is the non-Catholic Christian attitude of contraception?

Answer 31

Christianity is about love and justice, contraception improves women’s health and raises their standard of living.
There is nothing in the Bible that forbids the use of contraception.
They believe that it is better to combat AIDS/HIV by using contraception than expecting everyone to follow Christian rules.

Question 32

Why are some Muslims against contraception?

Answer 32

They believe that God created sex for procreation and therefore contraception is against God’s wishes.
They are against abortion and so would not allow contraceptives that acted as abortifacients.
They believe it is the duty of Muslims to have large families.

Question 33

Why are some Muslims in support of contraception?

Answer 33

There are several verses in the Qur’an where God says he does not place extra burdens on his followers. Family places extra burdens on parents.
If pregnancy will result in the mother’s death, contraception must be allowed because not to use it would be like suicide, which is a sin.
Muslim lawyers agree that contraception I s different from abortion so should be allowed.