Marriage and Family Life - Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Unit 3
Christian Marriage
Sacrament - Love between
husband and wife is sign of
the love of God.
Permanent - Marriage lasts for
as long as both partners are
alive "till death do us part"
Exclusive - Sharing life with your
partner means remaining totally
faithful to one another. Adultery is
wrong.
Life- Giving - It is about both
partners helping each other to
grow and become better
people. Also about having
children and caring for them.
Marriage Ceremony
Christianity and Sex
Sex before marriage is
wrong.
Some Christians believe it is
acceptable as long as the couple love
one another, are in a long term
relationship and intend to marry.
Bible teaches that your body
is the temple of the Holy Spirit
and should be respected,
instead of committing
promiscuity.
It is wrong to act upon homosexual
emotions, however Christians should
support homosexuals and not be
prejudiced.
Adultery is wrong.
Jesus taught that love
is the most important
thing - "Love your
neighbour"
Christianity and Divorce
RC - take the Bible literally and believe that marriage
is made by God and therefore cannot be ended by
anything other than death.
Anulment is possible - declaration
that the marriage did not really
exist - only if someone has been
forced into marriage, lying about
vows, or if marriage has not been
consummated.
Divorce
Adultery
Unreasonable behaviour
2 years separation
with consent
5 years separation
without consent
Desertion
Christianity and Family Life
Parents should love
their children and
provide them with food,
clothes etc.
Parents should set a good
example, encouraging
children to go to church
and be baptised and
confirmed.
"Honour your father and mother." - New Testament
Children should look after their
parents if they are no longer
capable.
Christian marriage ceremony refers
to starting a family and bringing
children up as Christians.
Family is basis of society.
God made family to keep
society together.
Adam and Eve=family
Some churches run schools which
teach in Christian environments.
Sunday schools and
confirmation classes teach
children differences
between right and wrong.
Vicars and priests act as
family counsellors.
Bible stresses
importance of family
life.
Homosexuality
RC Church - homosexuality is acceptable as
long as it is is not acted upon. Must control
sexual feelings by disinterested friendships,
through sacraments and prayer. Counselling
is offered.
'You must not lie with a man as with
a woman, that is detestable."
"Homosexual offenders will not inherit KINGDOM OF GOD."
Other Christians - allow homosexuality if
they are in a strong committed relationship
as Jesus did not discriminate, sex is also to
show love and Bible passages are outdated.
"Love thy Neighbour" and Golden Rule
"Let those who are without
sin cast the first stone"
Attitudes to Contraception
Against
Sex is for procreation.
Can lead to the sin of promiscuity.
Could lead to adultery
which is against Decalogue.
Devalues sexual acts.
Sex should take place within
marriage to ensure love and
trust, therefore there is no
need for contraception.
For
Sex is also to show love and
unity without the worry of
having children.
A couple may not be
able to afford children
so it allows them to plan
and control family sizes.
Jesus did not mention anything
about not using contraception in the
Bible.
Lesser of two evils if it
prevents needs for abortion.