GCSE Philosophy and Ethics (OCR): Religion and Human Relationships

Traditional Roles in a Christian family:

• God created Adam first, so men are the superior sex, and Eve led Adam astray in the Garden of Eden
• The man is the head of the family; 'For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church' (Ephesians 5:23)
• Christians look to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the role model of a quiet, loving mother

Alternative/Modern Roles in the Christian family:

• Most Christians believe in an equal relationship where the roles of the couple are interchangable:
• 'woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman' (1 Corinthians 11b)
• 'male and female he created them' (Genesis 1:27b)
• There is neither...male or female... for you are all one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:28)

Christian beliefs about marriage and its purpose:

• They believe it's a civil and religious commitment, so it takes place in a Church or Chapel. Also because promises are being made in front of God.
• It's a holy relationship
• Seen as a Sacrament (a special action which brings Christians closer to God) and part of God's plan for humanity
• Enables God to channel his love for them
• 'Marriage is the sacrament in which baptized men and women vow to belong to each other in a permanent and exclusive relationship of loving, mutual care, concern and shared responsibility, in the hope of having children and bringing up a family' (Catholic Truth Society)

How does the marriage ceremony reflect Christian teachings?

• Vows are said in the presence of God and the congregation, showing the sacred importance of the ceremony
• A ring is given to symbolise the unending nature of love and to show that the marriage is forever
• The priest asks if there are any reasons why the marriage can't go ahead. This is to show that the marriage is legally binding

• Christianity teaches that sexual relationships only belong within marriage. For that reason, many Christians do not accept civil partnerships

--The Catholic Church don't agree with civil partnerships. The Pope told Catholics that homosexuality was a greater problem for the future of the world than climate change.

--Members of the Church of England vary in their response (e.g. Gene Robinson is the first openly gay Anglican bishop). Some priests will permit a civil partnership and others will not.

Quotes which reject homosexuality:

• 'Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Neither the sexually immoral...nor homosexual offenders' (1 Corinthians 6:9)
• A vatican official stated; 'Homosexuality is a disordered behaviour. The activity must be condemned'
• 'We are convinced that those who practice homosexuality and lebianism are in sin' Anglican Province of Rwanda, 1998

• Most Christians believe that marrage is intended to be a relationship for life, as the vows and ring symbolise this

Roman Catholic beliefs about divorce

-They believe that divorce is wrong. However, they understand that not all marriages succeed so the Catholic Church permit the couple to separate and live apart, it does not allow either or them to re-marry because that would be adultery

-In exceptional cases, Annulment can be arranged: where they declare that the marriage was not a true marriage and it is cancelled e.g. if one of the couple were underage, forced to marry or the marriage was not consummated (where the couple do not have a sexual relationship after marriage). The Catholic Catechism says; '...men and women...in matrimony give themselves with a love that is total and therefore unique and exclusive'

Bible Teachings about divorce:

• 'No human being must separate what God has joined together' (Mark 10:9)
• 'Anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress' (Matthew 5:32)

• The CofE believe that marriage is for life, however, they accept that divorce may be the kindest thing to do because it ends conflict. Henry VIII created the CofE to get a divorce

Church of England view:

• Divorce is permitted because Jesus taught that the right course of action is the most loving thing to do
• Some Christians believe a marriage ends when love dies between the couple, as well as with the death of a partner
• Some Christians believe it is right to interpret Jesus's message in the light of today's society and permit divorce

Re-marriage:

• Roman Catholics do not accept remarriage
• CofE: re-marriage in Church or a church blessing following a register office ceremony (e.g. Prince of Wales)
• Other Christians accept re-marriage because Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness
• Not all Christians permit a second marriage ceremony in church because they're making promises to God that they've already broken

Beliefs about sexual relationships:

• Sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed by a couple as an act of love within their marriage; 'The sexual act must take place exclusively within marriage' (Catholic Catechism)
• Sex within a marriage also provides a stable relationship for bringing up children (CofE also agree with this)

Differing views about sexual relationships:

• Quakers: couples may choose to cohabit (live together without being married) - quality of the relationship is the most important aspect
• CofE: pre-marital sex is accepted if marriage is to follow

Beliefs about contraception:

• Roman Catholic reject artifical birth control, as the purpose of marriage is to have children (only accept Rhythm Method)
• 'The purpose of sex is reproduction' (Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law theory)
• Some Christians believe that contraception should be used if a couple want to limit the size of their family due (e.g. financial reasons) so they can raise a family in the best possible environment

• 'Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Neither the sexually immoral...nor homosexual offenders' (1 Corinthians 6:9)
• A vatican official stated; 'Homosexuality is a disordered behaviour. The activity must be condemned'
• 'We are convinced that those who practice homosexuality and lebianism are in sin' Anglican Province of Rwanda, 1998
• 'Woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman' (1 Corinthians 11b)
• 'Male and female he created them' (Genesis 1:27b)
• There is neither...male or female... for you are all one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:28)
• 'For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church' (Ephesians 5:23)
• The Catholic Catechism says; '...men and women...in matrimony give themselves with a love that is total and therefore unique and exclusive'
• 'No human being must separate what God has joined together' (Mark 10:9)
• 'The sexual act must take place exclusively within marriage' (Catholic Catechism)
• 'The purpose of sex is reproduction' (Thomas Aquinas)
• 'Marriage is the sacrament in which baptised men and women vow to belong to each other in a permanent and exclusive relationship of loving, mutual care, concern and shared responsibility, in the hope of having children and bringing up a family' (Catholic Truth Society)