Human Relationships

1. Importance
   1. sacred bond
      1. "two become one"
   2. sacrament
2. Ceremony
   1. Banns
      1. Public announcement of marriage
   2. Opening statements
      1. Values of marriage
   3. Vows
      1. shows life long commitment
   4. Giving of rings
      1. circle
         1. no beginnig
         2. no end
      2. reflects monogamy
   5. Hymns
      1. start of new life with help of god
         1. and community
   6. Prayers
      1. reflects communal aspect
   7. Signing of Register
      1. legalisation of marriage
   8. Nuptial Mass
      1. Roman Catholics only
         1. marriage = sacrament
      2. community based
      3. prayers and special readings
3. Community Institution
4. Monogamy
   1. Vows
      1. "until death do us part"
   2. having one partner for life
   3. Exchange of rings
      1. No beginning
         1. No end
            1. lifelong
5. Purpose
   1. Gift from god
   2. procreation
      1. correct relationship and environment for sex
   3. Sacrament
      1. Roman Catholics - always
      2. not protestants
6. Preparation
   1. General
      1. Choice of hymns to be sung
      2. Prayers
   2. Engagements
      1. rings
   3. Guest lists
   4. Clothes
      1. Women in white
         1. purity
   5. Discussion with priest or minister

1. Family
   1. Secondary
      1. Tradition Roles
         1. Men
            1. Breadwinners
            2. head of house
         2. Women
            1. housemakers
               1. /keepers
            2. obedient
               1. Ephesians 5:22
                  1. "wives submit to your husbands"
         3. Genesis
            1. 1
               1. 28
                  1. "go forth and multiply"
                     1. unfair
                        1. Women have to give birth
                           1. painful
                           2. Why not men?
            2. 2
               1. 18
                  1. Eve is made to help Adam
   2. Equal
      1. After World War Two
         1. Women had to work during the war
         2. They proved that they could work well
         3. They did not wish to stop working
      2. Galatians 3:28
         1. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
      3. Vows
         1. "love, honour and obey" each other
2. Church
   1. Secondary
      1. Roman Catholics
         1. Women cannot be ordained as ministers
      2. St. Paul
         1. Previously women were told to remain silent in Church
         2. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
            1. "Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."
         3. "now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God"
   2. Equal
      1. Examples in canon of NT
         1. Priscilla and Lydia in authority of early church
      2. Free Churches
         1. Baptists
         2. Methodists
         3. Have had women leaders for many years
      3. Genesis
         1. 1
            1. 27
               1. Man was made in the image of god
                  1. Man = mankind
                  2. mankind = men and women

1. A formal and legal termination of marriage
2. Christian beliefs about Divorce
   1. Family life is important
      1. ideal for children
      2. both biological parents
      3. have role models of both sexes
         1. give and receive love
         2. teach
         3. security
         4. etc.
   2. Breakdown of marriage
      1. tragedy
      2. different paths
3. Roman Catholics
   1. divocees that remarry are commiting a great sin
      1. Some Chrstians
      2. adultery
      3. Exodus 20:14
   2. impossible
      1. marriage = sacrament
      2. a sacred bond and this can't be undone
      3. god made the couple one flesh
         1. "What God has brought together, let no man sunder"
            1. Mark 10:9
   3. anullment
      1. legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void
         1. never a true marriage in the first place
      2. IFs
         1. Either partner did not
            1. consent
            2. understand meaning behind it
            3. i.e./e.g. entered contract under the influence of alcohol or drugs
         2. non consummated marriage
            1. couple couldn't/wouldn't have sex
            2. one partner refused to have children
4. Nonconformist Churches
   1. acceptable
   2. last resort
   3. not encouraged
   4. For when marriage becomes destructive
      1. e.g. abuse
      2. it is not in the best interest of those involved to contnue
      3. it is permissable
   5. remarriage is up to minister
5. Situation Ethics
   1. Fletcher
      1. Liberal response
      2. Agape love
      3. no love
         1. no need for unhappy marriage
            1. divorce acceptable
         2. especially in cases where fighting is having an impact on children
6. Jesus
   1. Anti-divorce
   2. Pro-forgiveness
   3. marriages were meant to last forever
      1. at creation time
   4. Moses allowed due to people's hardness of heart
      1. divorces who remarry are committing adultery
         1. Mark 10:2-12
         2. Jesus forgives an adulterer
            1. "Go, and do not sin again"
               1. John 8:1-11
7. Islam
   1. Permitted as last resort
   2. Arbiter from each family sorts things out
   3. "of all things permitted by law , divorce is the most hateful in sight of Allah" (Muhammed)
8. Secular
   1. J.S. Mill Harm Principal
9. Secular
   1. 1. Secular Views on Divorce
         1. Liberal Secular View: J.S. Mill Harm Principal
            1. If they want to dissolve the contract it is OK as long as no-one is physically harmed
         2. Utilitarian: J. Bentham
            1. if it is no longer proving the greatest happiness the contract can be dissolved
            2. All parties including children should be considered
         3. Virtue Ethics: Aristotle
            1. Not just who we are but who we strive to be
            2. We strive for
               1. love
               2. intimacy
               3. caring relationship
               4. provided in marriage
                  1. virtuous cycle
            3. if marriage doesn't provide this anymore
               1. divorce OK
               2. vicious cycle

Attachments:

• Human Relationships 2