Relationships and Families

RS Theme A for AQA GCSE

Quote that allows you to be religious and homosexual

• "Be fruitful and multiply" - Genesis

• Some may argue that this quote limits homosexual relationships, but gay couples can use IVF or a surrogate to have children

Reason to allow religious people to be homosexual

• Not every law in a religion is followed.  For example Food laws in Judaism. So why follow laws about sexuality too?

• The Bible was written thousands of years ago, and attitudes on homosexuality have changed a lot since then.

 

Reasons to support only heterosexual relationships for religious people

• Not all gay couples can 'be fruitful and multiply'

• It goes against what’s said in the Bible

2 Quotes that say you cannot be religious and homosexual

• "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman" - Leviticus

• "Men who have sex with men ... Will not inherit the kingdom of God" - Corinthians

What do quakers believe

• Everyone has a spark of God within them

• So you should not judge a person for their sexuality, because then you are judging God

What denominations allow same sex marriage

• Methodist

• United reform

What do Christians believe about sex before marriage

• Many Christians think you should not have sex before marriage, because sex is part of a loving, trusting relationship that only happens when you are married

• However more liberal Christians think that sex before marriage is widely accepted so they don't think it is wrong

What did the Pope write about sex before marriage

• In 1930, the Pope said "Every sexual act must be within the framework of marriage"

Why do Christians think adultery is wrong

• It is in the Ten Commandments - "You shall not commit adultery" - Exodus

• Adultery is wrong because it breaks the promise you make during a wedding ceremony

 

Which denominations are for contraception

• Quaker

• Methodist

• CofE

Which denominations are against contraception and why

• Catholics don't use contraception because a child is a gift from God

• They believe contraception encourages infidelity

• Some Catholics think using a 'morning after pill' is essentially an abortion

• However Catholics are encouraged to use the rhythm method to space out the births of their kids

Do Jews allow contraception

• Orthodox Jews only allow the pill, as it is the most natural

• Reform Jews allow contraception within marriage

 

Why would you use contraception

• If you cannot afford to have children

• If you do not want children

• If you have already had enough children

 

What is the purpose of marriage (3)

• To have children

• To celebrate love

• To complete a sacrament

Quotation - what happens when you get married

• "A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh"

 

Why do some people choose not to get married (3)

• They do not want to risk divorce - 42% of marriages end in divorce

• Society views marriage as the final step before having children. If a couple doesn't want kids they might stay unmarried

• It is expensive

Why is it good to live with your partner before getting married (4)

• You get to know the person and their habits before committing to marriage

• It is cheaper

• You have more arguments, so you learn how to resolve issues with each other

• Get to spend more time together

Why is it bad to live with your partner before getting married (2)

 

• It will encourage sex before marriage. If your denomination or religion doesn't allow this, then it will be hard to not be tempted to have sex if you live close together

• Couples might not be financially stable enough to have a house that suits both partners, leading to disputes if one person has to drive further to work than the other etc.

Reasons for divorce

• Addiction

• Adultery

• Falling out of love

• Disability

• Inability to have children

What did Jesus say about divorce and remarriage (quote)

• "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery" - Mark 10

Are there any valid reasons for divorce according to the Bible (quote)

• In Matthew it says "If a man divorces his wife for any cause other than unchastity, he involves her in adultery"

• So the only valid reason for divorce is if someone has an affair

 

Does the Catholic Church allow divorce

• A civil divorce cannot dissolve a marriage between two baptised people

• Catholics can separate but can't remarry someone in Catholic church if their partner is still alive

Does the Church of England allow divorce

• Divorce is often the lesser of two evils

• Remarriage is allowed, unless the people wanting to get married are in a relationship that was the direct cause of a previous divorce

• CofE understands that divorce is a breach of God's will for marriage, but still allows remarriage

Jewish view on divorce + quote

• It is allowed, but a last resort

• It is seen as a tragedy, but often the right thing to do

• "For I hate divorce, says the Lord" - Malachi

What is the aim of families in Christianity

to have children

What is the role of a husband

• In Genesis 1 when Eve ate the forbidden fruit, she got punished

• One of these punishments was that her husband would "rule over her"

How should parents treat their children (quotes)

• Do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry - Ephesians

• Bring them up with Christian discipline  - Ephesians

How should children treat their parents (quotes)

• In Timothy it says if you do not take care of your family members, you have "denied the faith"

• "It is your Christian duty to obey your parents" - Ephesians

• In the ten commandments it says to "Honour your mother and father"

What are the 3 foundations of Jewish family

• Kavod = Treating each other with respect and dignity within and outside the home.

• Chessed = Kindness, or love between people.

• Shalom bayit = Marital reconciliation and the desire for peace and stability within the home

What are the 3 purposes of Jewish family

• Preserving the faith - it is ideal if both parents are Jewish. Judaism is passed down through the mother

• Growing the faith - the main aim of a family is to procreate

• Raising children in the faith - parents have a responsibility to share the faith with children, encourage them to attend synagogue, and teach them to take part in rituals at the home such as Shabbat

Quote to encourage raising children in the faith

• "these commandments that I give you today are to be on our hearts. Impress them on your children." - Deuteronomy

How should husbands treat their wives (quote)

• "Husbands, love your wives just as Jesus loved the Church" - Ephesians

Two contrasting beliefs about gender equality

• Men should rule over their wives. In genesis this is the punishment for Eve, so they should do so today

• Men and women are equal. In the Bible, in Galatians it states "There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ"