Marriage, sexual relationships, families

Question 1

What are Christian teachings about marriage?

Answer 1

• Marriage is a sacrament: Vows promising faithfulness are made which shows that marriage is binding and sacred
• Marriage is a gift from God, was intended for human beings when they were created
• Marriage is seen to provide security and a stable environment for children to be raised as Christians
• not everyone needs to be married

Question 2

What is the Christian purpose of marriage

Answer 2

• to provide companionship, friendship and support between husband and wife
• to enjoy sexual relationship within marriage and have children and raise a family
• to make a lifelong commitment to another person, establishing a permanent and stable relationship

Question 3

Some people argue that marriage doesn’t guarantee happiness.

Christians disagree and believe that it is important for society.

why?

Answer 3

• regulates sexual behaviour
• provides a permanent and stable environment to have and bring up children according to Christian principles
• teaching people to be less self-centred and selfish because they have made a commitment to God and their spouse to live their married life in the way God wants

Question 4

What is the Humanist attitude towards marriage?

Answer 4

• accept marriage as a secular tradition
• marking important events like a wedding with a personalised ceremony
• do not believe in marriage as a religious institution
• do not believe in marriage as something established by God

Question 5

What is cohabitation

Answer 5

two people living together and have a sexual relationship but are not married

Question 6

Roman Catholic Church teachings about cohabitation

Answer 6

• sex before marriage is a sin

- couples who live together are not allowed to take part in communion, divorce or remarry

Question 7

What do Protestant churches accept about cohabitation?

Answer 7

• attitudes to marriage have changed
• couples live together without being married, although they hope these couples will eventually get married in the church

Question 8

What is the importance of families today?

Answer 8

• family strengthens society, providing structure and support
• it is where people feel safest, unites people and provides a support network

Question 9

How does the Parish help families?

Answer 9

• encouraging children to attend sunday school
• supporting couples who are expecting children e.g organising clases and socil events
• organising family events and family worship services
• running parental support classes
• providing counselling support

Question 10

How does the local parish support families during worship?

Answer 10

• running slightly shorter services
• getting children involved in worship
• providing toys for children to play in church

Question 11

How does the local parish help Christians through counseling?

Answer 11

• talk to their local priest or another member of the pastoral team
• some parishes offer counselling services such as the Marriage Care or the Catholic child welfare council
• they try to integrate psychology with principles and values of the Christian faith

Question 12

What does the parish church provide for adults and parents

Answer 12

• social events
• might organize study and prayer groups to help adults learn more about their faith
• some parishes might run courses or non-Christians to learn about the Christian faith e.g. alpha course

Question 13

Protestant beliefs about contraception?

Answer 13

• accepts the parents should decide how many children they have
• using contraception in a responsible way can bring greater fulfilment to a marriage
• not against teachings
• sensible method of family planning
• main purpose of sex is procreation but sex is also for pleasure as an expression of love between husband and wife

Question 14

Roman Catholic beliefs about contraception?

Answer 14

• all marital sex must be open to conception
• the bible is clear that human beings have a responsibility to procreate
• contraception could encourage casual sex
• natural forms of contraception are acceptable as procreation is possible
• strongly against contraception that jills a fertilized egg ( morning after pill)

Question 15

Not all Catholics agree with roman catholic beliefs.

What do they think about contraception?

Answer 15

• lowers the risks of some health issues like aids
• reduces poverty
• helps control the population explosion

Question 16

What are non-religious views on contraception?

Answer 16

• humanists believe contraception should be used responsibly and not promote promiscuity
• British humanist association argues that if contraception “results in every child being a wanted child and in better, healthier lives for women, it must be a good thing”
• humanists disagree with Roman Catholics because they don’t believe in God or God-given principles
• Atheists believe in reproductive rights and situation ethics

Question 17

What is the Catholic attitude to divorce?

Answer 17

• Catholics prefer annulment or separation.
• divorce is not recognisd because marriage is for life
• marriage is a sacrament and divorce would break the promises made with God
• even when legal divorce happens, the marriage bond is not broken
• remarriage is not accepted - cannot be held in a catholic church
• Catholics who get divorced are not allowed to receive Holy Communion during mass.

Question 18

What is the only exception for Catholics for divorce?

Answer 18

annulment, which recognizes that the marriage was never valid in the first place :

• forced marriage
• psychologically unable to understand what the commitment of marriage meant

Question 19

What are biblical teachings on divorce?

Answer 19

Jesus in the news testament:

• a man can only divorce his wife if she commits sexual immorality
• a divorced woman is a “victim of adultery”
• a man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery
• remarriage after divorce is not allowed
• divorce allowed when desertation happens

Question 20

What is the protestant attitude to divorce?

Answer 20

• divorce is not be encouraged but may sometimes be necessary
• divorce must be acceptable as UK law allows it
• people can make mistakes and God is ready to forgive sins
• it is up to the individual minister to decide whether a couple is allowed to remarry in their church

Question 21

What is the non-religious attitude to divorce?

Answer 21

• humanists think that marriage breakdown can cause problems, particularly for children
• better for two parents to share the work and pleasure of bringing up children
• sometimes the best option because it ends the conflict
• do not believe any promises of god are broken
• situation ethics

Question 22

sexual relationships in the bible

Answer 22

casual relationships are wrong- marriage is intended for sexual relationships

adultrey is forbidden in the ten comandments which are rules from god

married couples should be faithful to each other as spoken in the marriage vows

st paul in the bible condems homosexual acts, stating that they are shameful

being sexually pure is advised, and many christians take a voe of chastity before marriage

Question 23

christian teachings about the importance of parents within the family

Answer 23

most christians believe that they have a responsibility to get married and have children if able, as this is what god intended

parensts have a responsiblity to love, support and care for their children and keep them safe

christian parents raise their chilfren as christians- getting them baptised or christened and introducing them to the christian community, church and religous teachings

Question 24

importance of family today

Answer 24

family strengthens society, providing structure and support

family is where people feel safest- with the people they love

Question 25

church teachings about family

Answer 25

the church is seen as a family that Christians belong to wherever they are in the world the Christian community can provide support to the family unit when it faces problems

Question 26

social environment and the family

Answer 26

within the family, children are introduced to christianity- attending church and celebrating festivals as a family unit. children are also baptised, attend sunday school and learn about christianity

Question 27

children in the family

Answer 27

the bible outlines that children should honour, obey and respect their parents children are expected to care for their parents in their old age, just as their parents once cared for them

Question 28

role of men and women in the family

Answer 28

men and women were both made in the image of God. God made humans to be different from all other creations some parts of the bible suggest that God made woman as a helpmate for man. a lteral interpretation could be men are the head of the household with women looking after the hme abnd children. another interpretation is that men and women are intended to work alongside each other equally many christians today feel that a traditional understanding of men as providers and women as cares is outdated catholics accept men and women were created in the image of God but were given different roles other christians today may argue that men and women are equal and eith can provide or take care of the home and the children