Marriage and the Family

Marriage:

• Most people now have sex before marriage - contraception has made this easier.
• People are getting married later in life.
• Most marriages do not take place in a church - fewer people go to church so are less bothered about marrying in church.
• Many couples cohabit before marriage - the media and celebrities made this look acceptable.

Divorce:

• Divorce is seen as a normal part of life and is more common - new laws made divorce easier and cheaper.
• Equality for women meant that they would no longer accept poor treatment from men (they could now seek a divorce).
• Women are now more financially independent so don't need to stay married to their husbands for stability.
• People are living longer and are therefore married for longer.

Family Life:

• The popularity of cohabitation means that many parents remain unmarried.
• The increase in divorce has led to an increase in remarriage so there are more re-constituted families.
  
• More parents go out to work so children are left with minders or grandparents.
• The acceptance of divorce and unmarried mothers means more single parent families.

Homosexuality:

• Changes in the law have made it easier to be openly homosexual.
• Medical research has shown homosexuality to be natural, leading to more equal rights.
• Media coverage of gay celebrities has lead to a greater acceptance of gay people.
• The work of gay rights organisations has led to greater acceptance and equal rights.
• Homosexual couples can now join legally by having a civil partnership.

Christianity teaches that sex should only take place between a man and a woman married to each other.

Christians believe that sex outside of marriage is wrong because:

• Procreation - sex was given to humans by God so that they could have children. Children should be brought up in a Christian family so sex should only take place within marriage.
• Fornication - the Bible says that fornication (sex before marriage) is sinful and Christians should follow the teachings of the Bible.
• Adultery - all Christians are against adultery because it breaks the wedding vows to be faithful to each other.
• Ten Commandments - the 7th Commandment is 'Thou shalt not commit adultery'.

Islam teaches that sex should only take place between a married man and woman.

Muslims believe that sex outside of marriage is wrong because:

• Sex before marriage is forbidden by the Qur'an, which also says that boys and girls should be separated after puberty.
• The Shari'ah Law says that sex should only take place within a marriage and the Shari'ah is the law for all Muslims.
• Islam teaches that the primary purpose of sex is for the procreation of childrean. Children should only be born into a married family.
• Adultery is condemned by Allah in the Qur'an which says that anyone committing adultery should be punished severely.

Some Christians, e.g. Catholics, believe that divorce is wrong because:

• Jesus banned divorce: Mark 10:10-12 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her".
• The couple have made a covenant (agreement) with God in the sacrament of marriage and the covenant cannot be broken by a human.
• Remarriage is not allowed as that would be adultery.

Some Christians, e.g. Protestants, would accept divorce because:

• In the Bible it says: "I tell you, anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery" - Matthew 19:8-9, so it's allowed on the grounds of adultery.
• They believe that divorce may be the lesser of two evils.
• Christians believe in forgiveness.

First view - divorce is wrong:

• Prophet Muhammad said that divorce was "the most hated of lawful things".
• They believe that on the Last Day, Muslims will be judged on how well they have looked after children - divorce would mean that the children grow up in an unstable home.
• The Qur'an teaches that Muslims should try all they can to rescue a marriage.

Second view - divorce is allowed:

• Divorce may be the lesser of two evils.
• The Qur'an clearly permits divorce.
• The Shari'ah Law permits divorce and has many laws about how divorce should operate.

• One of the main purposes of Christian marriage is to have children and bring them up in a secure Christian environment so that they will come to follow God.
• Christian teachings on divorce makes it clear that Christian parents should stay together and bring up children.
• The family is where children learn right from wrong, leading to less evil in the world.
• The family is where children are introduced to Christianity through baptism.

• Islam teaches that children are a gift from Allah and on the Last Day, Muslim parents will be judged on how well they have looked after their family.
• The Qur'an teaches that the family was created by Allah as a basic unit of society.
• The Prophet Muhammad married and raised a family, and he should be seen as a role model to Muslims.
• Without the family, children would not learn the difference between right and wrong.

Some Christians, such as Evangelical Protestants, believe that homosexuality is wrong because:

• The Bible says: "No man is to have sexual relations with another man: God hates that" - Leviticus 8:22.
• God created man and woman to be in a marriage relationship together.
• The purpose of sex is procreation, and two same-sex partners cannot have a child this way.

However, some Christians, such as Liberal Protestants, believe that homosexuality is okay because:

• Christians believe in love and acceptance.
• The teachings of the Bible need re-interpreting in modern culture.
• God created everyone - including homosexuals.

Majority view - Homosexuality is wrong:

• Homosexuality is condemned by the Qur'an and the Qur'an is the word of Allah.
• The Prophet Muhammad condemned homosexuality and Muslims should follow his teachings.
• Allah says in the Qur'an that marriage between a man and a woman is the only acceptable form.
• All Muslims should try to have a family.

Minority view - Homosexuality is okay:

• Islam is a religion of tolerance.
• Muslims believe that Allah created and loves all people whatever their sexual orientation.

Some Christians (such as Roman Catholics) believe that contraception should not be used because:

• Sex was given by God for procreation and so every sexual act should allow for the possibility of conception taking place.
• Contraception has encouraged promiscuity and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
• These views have been upheld and reaffirmed by the Pope.

Some Christians (such as Protestants) believe that contraception is allowed to limit the size of a family:

• The essense of Christianity is love and contraception can be used to protect a woman's health.
• Reducing the size of families gives children a better standard of living.
• God created sex for pleasure and to provide an experience unique to the married couple.
• There is nothing in the Bible that says contraception is wrong.

Some Muslims believe that contraception should not be used at all:

• The Hadith says "If Allah wishes to create a child, you cannot prevent it.
• Muslims are opposed to abortion and so would not allow any contraceptive abortifacients.
• Muslims believe that Allah created sex for procreation.
• It is the duty of Muslims to have large families.

Some Muslims believe that it is permitted for Muslims to use contraception to limit the number of children they have:

• If pregnancy is a risk to the mother's health, contraception must be allowed because Islam puts the mother's life first.
• There are hadith which record that the Prophet Muhammad permitted the use of coitus interruptus (withdrawal) as a means of contraception.
• Muslim lawyers agree that contraception is different from abortion and so should be permitted.
• The Qur'an says that Allah does not place burdens on his followers, and contraception stops extra burdens.