RE - Section 3 - Marriage and the family
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- Created by: kateq
- Created on: 10-05-13 18:28
3.1 Changing attitudes to marriage and family life
- before:
- expected that young people only have sex after marriage
- married young in church for life
- nuclear family
- male homosexuality was a criminal offence
How attitudes have changed:
- pre-marital sex
- cohabitation - living together without being married
- average age for marriage increased
- most marriages don't take place in church
- divorce accepted as a normal part of life
- more divorce - more single parents and re-constituted families
- more extended families - more mothers in paid employment
- more children being brought up by cohabiting parents
- homosexual sex treated same as heterosexual sex
- homosexuals can form a legal union - same rights and treatment as opposite-sex couples
Reasons for changes:
Cohabitation and marriage:
- effective contraception - safer sex before marriage
- less people going to church - less encouragement for sex after marriage
- media/celebrities making cohabitation look respectable
- media - sexual relationships outside of marriage was normal - acceptable
Divorce:
- new laws - cheaper divorce - easier
- increased equality for women - no longer prepared to accept unequal treatment
- many women financially independent - can support themselves after divorce
- change in marriage lengths.
Family life:
- cohabitation is more popular
- increase in divorce - increase in re-marriage - more re-constituted families
- more mothers in paid employment - use relatives to care for children
- increase divorce - more unmarried mothers accepted - more single parenting
Homosexuality:
- change in laws - easier to be openly homosexual as society is more aware
- medical research - it is natural - accepting equal rights for homosexual couples
- media coverage - gay celebs - more acceptance
- gay rights organisations - more acceptance
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3.2 Christian attitudes to sex outside marriage
- most believe it's wrong
- God gave us sex for procreation of children who should be brought up in a Christian family - only take place within marriage
- sex outside marriage - sinful - should follow teachings of bible
- pre-marital sex is wrong - catholics should follow teachings of the Catechism
- against adultery - breaks wedding vows
- adultery banned by Ten Commandments
- adultery condemned by Jesus - follow teachings of Jesus
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3.3.1 Islam and sex outside marriage
- pre-marital sex - forbidden by Qur'an - word of God
- sex is only for the procreation of children who should be raised in a family where the mother and father are married
- adultery condemned by God in the Qur'an
- adultery breaks marriage contract
- adultery - likely to harm family - condemned by Qur'an
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3.4 Christian attitudes to divorce
Catholic church does not allow divorce or re-marriage. Only way to end marriage is by death. However, it is allowed if it is better for the children, but the couple are still married in the eyes of God.
- Jesus taught that divorce was wrong - should follow teachings
- couple made agreement with God which 'cannot be broken by any earthly power'
- Catechism - a marriage cannot be dissolved
- no divorce - no re-marriage - bigamy (2 husbands/wives) and adultery
- if marriage can be proved that the marriage was never true - free to re-marry
Most non-catholic churches think that divorce is wrong, but re-marriage and divorce is allowed if the marriage has broken down.
- Jesus allowed divorce in Matthew 19:9 for a pertner's adultery
- the lesser of two evils - couple not divorcing in a truly broken marriage worse than the divorce itself
- repent and confess sins - forgiven - another chance at marriage
- it is better to ivorce than to live in hatred and quarrel all the time
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3.5.1 Islam and divorce
Some Muslims would not divorce because:
- Muhammad reported to have said that divorce is the most hated of lawful things
- arranged marriages - family pressure against divorce
- divorce - harms children - sent to hell if they harm their children
- Qur'an teaches that families should try to rescue marriage before divorce
Most believe that it should be allowed because:
- Qur'an permits divorce - terms for custody of children and care for divorced wives
- Shari'ah permits divorce
- belief that divorce is a lesser evil than forcing a couple to live in hatred/bitterness
- marriage is a contract in Islam - contract states consequences of divorce - therefore must be allowed
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3.6 Why family life is important for Christians
- christian marriage - to have children and bring them up as good Christians
- Christianity teaches that family was created by God as the basis of society
- only place for the upbringing of children
- family is too important to be broken up by divorce
- without family - children wouldn't know the difference between right and wrong.
- family brings children into Christian faith
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3.7.1 Islam and family life
- Muslim parents judged by God on how well children are brought up
- if family life decides whether Muslims go to heaven, must be important
- family - only place in which children should be brought up
- Prophet Muhammad married and raised a family - Muslims must do the same
- without family, children wouldn't know what's right/wrong
- family brings children into Islamic faith
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3.8 Christian attitudes to homosexuality
Catholic attitude:
- being homosexual isn't a sin
- homosexual sexual activity is
- it is sinful to criticize homosexuals
- the Bible condemns homosexual sexual activity
- any sexual activity should have the possibility of creating children
- teaching of the Magisterium which Catholics should believe
- people cannot help their sexual orientation but they can help their sexual activity
- discriminating against people for their orientation - same as racism - sinful
Evangelical protestant attitude:
- homosexuality is a sin
- can be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit
- Bible says that it's a sin - direct word of God
- the salvation of Christ can remove all sins
- all churches have taught that it's wrong
- however, homophobia recently condemned - should welcome homosexuals
Liberal Protestant attitude:
- welcome homosexuals
- Bible texts condemning homosexuality show beliefs at the time
- Christian belief in love and acceptance - should accept homosexuals
- if homosexual Christians feel the Holy Spirit approve of homosexuality, must be true.
- Christians should be open and honest - gays shouldn't pretend to be heterosexual
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3.9.1 Islam and homosexuality
The majority attitude:
- homosexuality is condemned by Qur'an - final world of God
- Prophet Muhammad condemned homosexuality - should follow teachings
- marriage between a man and woman is the only lawful form of sex - God in Qur'an
- any sexual activity should have the possibility of children
- all muslims should try to have a family but homosexuals cannot
The minority attitude:
- Islam is a religion of tolerance, not hate
- God created and loves all people despite their orientation
- scientific evidence about homosexuality means God must have made some people like that
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3.10 Christian attitudes to contraception
Catholic attitude:
- responsible parenthood through natural family planning and not contraception
- all forms of artificial contraception condemned
- Catholics could use natural methods of contraception - only allowable forms
- all sex should be unitive (bring couple together) and creative (bringing new life)
- belief that artificial contraception leads to sexual promiscuity/broken families/divorce/STDs
Non-catholic christian attitudes:
- Christianity is about love and justice - contraception improves women's health and raises standard of living
- God created sex for enjoyment and to strengthen marriage - does not have to be about bearing children
- nothing in Bible that forbids use of contraception
- contraception used to limit family size
- condoms - best way to combat STDs
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3.11.1 Islam and contraception
Against:
- Qur'an - you should not kill your children for fear of want - ban on contraception
- God created sex for having children
- opposed to abortion - wouldnt allow contraceptives
- duty of Muslims to have large families
For:
- Qu'ran - God does not place extra burdens on his followers - contraceptives stops extra burdens
- pregnancy risks mother's health - contraception allowed - mother's life first
- contraception different to abortion - should be allowed
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