Marriage and the family

MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

/changing attitudes to marriage/divorce/

~ most people now have sex before marriage. It is socially acceptable for people to live together unmarried.

~ the age to get married has increased and not as many people do it in a church.

~ there is an increase in reconstituted families. Civil partnerships were introduced in 2004.

~ divorce is now accepted and often expected.

/reasons for the changes/

1. Cohabitation and marriage

~ contraception made sex safer from pregnancy.

~ Christianity lost a lot of its influence.

2. Divorce

~ the law made it easier and cheaper to get a divorce (1969).

~ there are more equal rights so women can afford to support themselves.

3. Family life

~ more divorce means more remarriage.

~ social acceptance of unmarried mothers = more single parent families.

4. Homosexuality

~ changes in the law make it easier to be openly homosexual.

~ scientists have shown that homosexuality is genetic so it is not a choice.

/Christianity and sex outside marriage/

~ adultery is banned in the 10 commandments.

~ for Christians, sex is an act of love and commitment and so should take place within a marriage.

~ many Christians believe that restricting sex to within marriage is in the best interests of society, children and the individual.

~ the Roman Catholic Church forbids pre-marital sex and sees it as a grave sin, because the bibles forbids it. Cohabitation is also not an option.

~ some Christians groups, such as Protestants, recognise that times have changed and are prepared to accept cohabitation if the couple intend to marry.

/Islam and sex outside marriage/

~it is wrong because... 1. The Qur'an condemns pre-marital sex. 2. Shari'ah law says sex is only for married couples. 3. Sex is meant to be for created children that should be raised by a married couple. 4. Adultery is also condemned in the Qur'an.

/Christian beliefs on divorce/

~ Christians recognise that not all marriages work and that some people will want to end their marriage. (Jesus allows divorce as he recognises that some cases are serious enough for it).

~ some orthodox Christians and liberal Protestants will permit divorce if they think it is the most loving thing to do. It is better to divorce than live in hatred so it is the lesser of two evils.

/Roman Catholic beliefs on divorce/

~ they do not accept divorce because Jesus said it was wrong in marks gospel.

~ if a…