RELIGION AND LIFE: MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

CHANGES

• MOST PEOPLE NOW HAVE SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE
• NOW ACCEPTABLE FOR COUPLES TO COHABIT WOTHOUT MARRYING - IN 1960'S IT WAS KNOWN AS LIVING IN SIN
• AVERAGE AGE FOR MARRYING HAS RISEN ENORMOUSLY - IN 2002 IT WAS 31 FOR MEN AND 29 FOR WOMEN
• MINORITY OF MARRIAGES TAKE PLACE IN A CHURCH

CONSEQUENCES

• MORE THAN 10% OF THE ADULT POPULATION HAVE AN STD
• AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH CLYMIDIA HAS RISEN - LEADS TO CANCER AND INFERTILITY

WHY MOST CHRISTIANS ARE AGAINST PRE-MARITAL SEX

• GIVEN TO HUMANS BY GOD FOR THE PROCREATION OF CHILDREN - MUST BE DONE WHEN MARRIED
• THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT PRE MARITAL SEX AND PROMISCUITY IS SINFUL
• ALL CHURCHES SAY THAT PRE-MARITAL SEX IS WRONG
• PROMISCUITY MAKES PEOPLE VULNERABLE TO STD'S WHICH IS A FORM OF HARMING YOURSELF AND "YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"

WHY ALL CHRISTIANS ARE AGAINST EXTRA-MARITAL SEX

• THE BIBLE SAYS THAT "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY
• "GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HOLY AND COMPLETELY FREE OF IMMORALITY"

WHY SOME CHRISTIANS THINK THAT PRE-MARITAL SEX AND COHABITION IN ACCEPTABLE

• JESUS TAUGHT THAT LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
• IF THE COUPLE LOVE EACHOTHER AND PLAN TO GET MARRIED IN THE FUTURE, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CHURCH TO COME TO TERMS WITH MODERN LIFE

PURPOSES OF MARRIAGE

• COUPLES CAN HAVE A LIFE LONG RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS
• COUPLES CAN HAVE THE SUPPORT AND COMFORT EACHOTHER
• PROCREATION OF CHILDREN
• BRINGING UP OF CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

MAIN FEATURES OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE CEREMONIES

• PREIST - WELCOMING COUPLE AND ACTING AS CHURCH'S WITNESS - READS FROM BIBLE AND TALKS ABOUT NATURE OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE
• EMPHASIS ON THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE AND THAT IT IS A SPECIAL SACRIMENT - SO GOD IS PART OF IT
• EXCHANGE OF VOWS - RESTRICTS SEX TO EACHOTHER AND MEANS THAT THE MARRIAGE IS LIFE LONG
• EXCHANGE OF RINGS - SYMBOLISES UNENDING NATURE OF MARRIAGE
• PRAYERS - ASKING FOR GODS BLESSING ON MARRIAGE AND AND HELP OF HOLY SPIRIT TO MAKE MARRIAGE WORK

HOW ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED

NOT MANY PEOPLE DIVORCED BEFORE 1969 - NOW DIVORCE IS ACCEPTED AS PART OF LIFE - ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 2 IN 5 MARRIAGES WILL END IN DIVORCE

REASONS

• REMOVAL OF LEGAL AND FINANCIAL BARIERS - 1969 - LAW PASSED MAKING DIVORCE CHEAPER AND MORE POSSIBLE - BEFORE IT WAS ONLY ALLOWED IN CASES OF ADULTERY OR CRUELTY
• CHANGING EXPECTATIONS OF MARRIAGE - WOMEN NO LONGER DEPENDANT ON HUSBANDS FOR MONEY - CAN AFFORD TO LIVE AFTER DIVORCE
• DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES - A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MEN COULD EXPECT TO MARRY MORE THAN ONCE BECAUSE A LOT OF WOMEN DIED AT CHILDBIRTH - MOST DIVORCES NOW END AFTER 10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, WHICH WAS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF A MARRIAGE BACK THEN

REASONS FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH NOT ALLOWING DIVORCE

• JESUS TAUGHT THAT DIVORCE IS WRONG IN MARK'S GOSPEL
• THE COUPLE HAVE MADE A CONVENANT WITH GOD IN THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE - CONVENANT CANNOT BE BROKEN BY ANY EARTHLY POWER

REASONS FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH ALLOWING ANNULMENT

• IF IT CAN BE PROVED THAT THE MARRIAGE WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IT IS NOT A TRUE MARRIAGE

REASONS FOR NON CATHOLIC CHURCHES ALLOWING DIVORCE

• JESUS ALLOWED DIVORCE IN MATTHEW 19:9 FOR A PARTNERS ADULTERY
• CHRISTIANS ARE ALLOWED FORGIVENESS AND A NEW CHANCE FOR CONFESSED SINS SO THEY SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AT MARRIAGE
• ITS BETTER TO DIVORCE THAN LIVE IN HATRED AND CONFLICT

TYPES OF FAMILY

• NUCLEAR FAMILY - TWO PARENTS (HUSBAND AND WIFE) AND THEIR CHILDREN LIVING TOGETHER - A VAST MAJORITY OF FAMILIES IN THE 1960'S
• RE-CONSTITUTED FAMILY - STEP FAMILIES JOINED TOGETHER THROUGH REMARRIAGE - MORE COMMON SINCE MORE POEPLE REMARRY - 20% OF 30 MEN ARE STEPFATHERS - DOUBLED IN LAST 12 YEARS
• SAME SEX FAMILY - TWO SAME SEX PARTNERS AND CHILDREN
• SINGLE PARENT FAMILY - ONE PARENT AND CHILDREN - MORE COMMON SINCE MORE PEOPLE ARE DIVORCING
• EXTENDED FAMILY - PARENTS, CHILDREN, GRANDPARENTS, UNCLES, AUNTS AND COUSINS - MORE POPULAR - MORE WOMEN ARE IN PAYED EMPLOYMENT SO USE GRANDPARENTS TO LOOK AFTER THEIR CHILDREN

TEACHINGS

CHRISTIAN CHILDREN SHOULD RESPECT THEIR PARENTS AS THEY ARE INSTRUCTED IN THE FOURTH COMMANDMENTS AND IN PAULS TEACHINGS

PARENTS SHOULD FOLLOW PAULS TEACHINGS AND TREAT THEIR CHILDREN WELL - ALSO PROVIDE THEIR CHILDREN WITH NECESSITIES SUCH AS EDUCATION 

CHILDREN EXPECTED TO CARE FOR THEIR PARENTS WHEN THEY'RE NO LONGER CAPABLE OF LOOKING AFTER THEMSELVES - BASED ON FOURTH COMMANDMENT

WHY FAMILY LIFE IS IMPORTANT

FAMILY WAS CREATED BY GOD AS BASIC UNIT OF SOCIETY AND ONLY PLACE WHERE CHILDREN SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP - MOST IMPORTANT PART OF SOCIETY

FAMILY IS PLACE WHERE CHILDREN LEARN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG - MORE EVIL IN WORLD WITHOUT FAMILY

FAMILY IS PLACE WHERE CHILDREN INTRODUCED TO FAITH BY BAPTISM AND BEING TAKEN TO CHURCH - IMPORTANT FOR CHRISTIANITY TO CONTINUE TO GROW

HOW CHURCHES HELP WITH BRINGING UP OF CHILDREN

CHURCH SCHOOLS - PROVIDE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND WORSHIP IN ADDITION TO STANDARD EDUCATION

CLASSES GIVEN - PREPARE CHILDREN FOR FIRST COMMUNION - TEACHES CHILDREN RIGHT AND WRONG AND KEEPS THEM WITHIN FAMILY

SUNDAY SCHOOLS - GIVE CHILDREN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND ALLOW PARENTS TO WORSHIP WITHOUT DISTRACTION OF CHILDREN

CHURCH RAN CLUBS AND YOUTH GROUPS - CHILDREN KEPT OFF STREETS AND AWAY FROM BAD INFLUENCES

CHURCH RUN GROUPS LIKE BROWNIES AND CUBS - ECOURAGE CHILDREN TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND GIVE TO CHARITY

PRIESTS/MINISTERS - GIVE ADVICE TO STRUGGLING FAMILIES

CHARITIES SUCH AS CATHOLIC MARRIAGE CARE - HELP WITH FAMILY LIFE

TYPES OF CONTRACEPTION

CONDOM - PREVENTS SPERM FROM ENTERING WOMANS BODY

PILL - STOPS OVULATION

MORNING AFTER PILL - CAN BE TAKEN MORNING AFTER SEX TO PREVENT PREGNANCY

REASONS FOR CONTRACEPTION

PREGNANCY MIGHT HARM MENTAL OR PHYSICAL CONDITION OF MOTHER

LIMIT AMOUNT OF CHILDREN PEOPLE HAVE TO ENSURE NO DAMAGE TO LIVING CONDITIONS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF EXISTING CHILDREN

PREVENT PREGNANCY OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT CHILDREN AT THIS STAGE OF THEIR LIVES OR CANNOT PROVIDE FOR CHILD

REASONS WHY ROMAN CATHOLICS ARE AGAINST CONTRACEPTION

SEX WAS A GIFT FROM GOD FOR PROCREATION - THIS IS THE ONLY THING SEX SHOULD BE USED FOR

CONTRACEPTION MAY ENCOURAGE PROMISCUITY AND ADULTERY

IT IS NOT INKEEPING WITH NATURAL HUMAN NATURE

'RYTHEM METHOD' - ONLY FORM OF CONTRACEPTION ALLOWED - CHOOSING WHEN TO HAVE SEX IN ACCORDANCE WITH OVULATION TIMES

REASONS WHY OTHER CHRISTIANS THINK CONTRACEPTION IS ACCEPTABLE

IT IS ONLY ACCEPTABLE WITHIN A MARRIAGE

ALLOWS COUPLE TO ENJOY SEX WITHOUT WORRY OF UNWANTED POREGNANCY

FAMILY IS IMPORTANT WITHIN CHRISTIANITY AND CONTRACEPTION CAN BE VITAL FOR FAMILY PLANNING AND ENSURING STABLE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT

ATTITUDES 

• IN THE PAST IT WAS SEEN AS A DISEASE OF THE EVIL
• TODAY, SOME PEOPLE SEE IT AS A LIFE CHOICE, OTHERS SAY IT'S GENETIC

LAWS

• 1967 - HOMOSEXUAL ACTS BETWEEN CONSENTING COUPLE OVER 21 MADE LEGAL
• 1994 - LOWERED TO 18
• 2000 - LOWERED TO 16
• 2005 - CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS INTRODUCED - GAVE HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES SIMILAR RIGHTS TO HETROSEXUAL MARRIED COUPLES

FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANS - THINK HOMOSEXUALITY IS A SIN AND PRAY FOR THEM TO BE CURED

• OLD TESTAMENT - 'ABOMINATION FOR A MAN TO LIE WITH ANOTHER MAN AS THEY WOULD WITH WOMEN'
• NEW TESTAMENT - ST PAUL - 'SOME MEN AND WOMEN HAVE EXCHANGED NATURAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR UNNATURAL ONES AND HAVE COMMITED INCIDENT ACTS WITH EACHOTHER"

CONSERVATIVE AND CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS - THINK HOMOSEXUAL THOUGHT'S ARE NOT WRONG BUT ACTS ARE

• BIBLE CLEARLY OUTLINES BELIEF THAT HOMOSEXUAL ACTS ARE WRONG
• CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS STATE THAT SEX SHOULD BE KEPT WITHIN MARRIAGE - GAYS CAN'T MARRY
• HOMOPHOBIA IS WRONG - "ALL HUMANS CREATED IN IMAGE OF GOD'
• INDIVIDUALS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FEELINGS, ONLY ACTIONS THEY TAKE

LIBERAL CHRISTIANS - BELIEVE SHOULD BE COMPLETE EQUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE OF HOMOSEXUALS

• BIBLE NEEDS INTERPRETING IN LIGHT OF MODERN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT GENETICS
• PASSAGES IN BIBLE LIKELY TO BE REFLECTION OF HOMOPHOBIC SOCIETY OF TIME, NOT GODS WILL
• GOD DOES NOT COMDEMN PEOPLE FOR DOING WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS MORAL

THE PREGNANT MAN DOCUMENTARY

• COUPLE - WIFE COULDN'T CARRY BABY - THOMAS DECIDED TO HAVE BABY - TRANSGENDER - PARTIAL SEX CHANGE
• ANGRY ATTENTION FROM MEDIA - RECIEVED DISTURBING THREATS FROM PEOPLE - MESSAGES FROM CHRISTIANS TELLING THEM TO SEEK FORGIVENESS FOR SINS
• THOMAS GAVE BIRTH TO GIRL IN JULY 2008 - COUPLE NOW EXPECTING SECOND CHILD

WOULD THEY HAVE MADE GOOD PARENTS?

• YES - STABLE AND LOVING RELATIONSHIP
  • CHILD IS WANTED - HAS LOVING PARENTS
  • PARENTS SHOWN THEY CAN OVERCOME DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
• NO - THOMAS NOT SECURE IN OWN GENDER - COULD AFFECT BABY
  
  • CHILD MAY FACE BULLYING BECAUSE OF BACKGROUND
  • PARENTS ACCUSED OF MAKING CHILD MEDIA ATTRACTION