re - relationships and families

Christian attitude to sex

• Sex should take place only in marriage
• It expresses a deep, lifelong union of marriage
• Chastity (being pure) is important before marriage.
• Sex is part of a loving, trusting relationship that should be developed within a marriage.
• It should NOT be casual. temporary pleasure.
• It is wrong to use people for sex & irresponsibly spread STIs or risk pregnancy.

bible quotes for sex in marriage

"Every sexual act must in the framework of marriage"

jesus' view of adultery

"You have heard it said, You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at another woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

quotes for having sex only for children

'Go forth and multiply'

liberal protestants view of sex

they accept COHABITATION/sex before marriage in a long term loving relationship

catholic christians view of sex

they try to encourage ABSTINANCE before marriage and faithfulness in marriage

reasons why people use contraceptives

- to avoid unwanted pregnancies
- to avoid stds
- to reduce period symptoms
- to help with hormones

procreation

the christian idea that sex should be used only to produce children

family planning

Controlling how many children couples have and when they have them

natural methods of family planning

- abstinence
- rhythm method

Contemporary British attitudes towards family planning

In modern Britain there is widespread acceptance Of the use Of contraception in family planning. Many people think it is more responsible to prevent unwanted pregnancies, both from a personal point of view and also because of concerns about global over-population. Many religious people think that using some forms of contraception for the right reasons within marriage is acceptable.

Christian attitudes towards family planning

All Christian churches agree that having children is God's greatest gift to a married couple. Christian couples are called by God to be responsible parents, fully committed to their children's nurture and guidance. It is God's will that children are born within marriage, but all Christian churches accept that there are some situations when it may be acceptable to avoid bringing children into the world. The reasons may be economic, environmental, physical or psychological.

However, Christian churches do not all agree on the methods couples should use to limit their families or to time the births of their children.

Many other Christians, as well as Muslims and Jews, will naturally want to have a family, but they do not want every sexual act to potentially lead to conceiving a child. Anglicans and Nonconformist Christians accept that people should only have as many children as they are able to care for. It would be unfair to bring a baby into a life of deprivation. They allow contraception to enable couples to develop their relationship before having children, or to space out pregnancies to avoid harming the mother's health. The Church of England approved the use of artificial contraception in 1930:

The Roman Catholic Church teaching on Contraception

"Artificial" contraception is wrong. Catholics cannot use birth control that relies on more than the female body's natural menstrual cycle.

Natural contraception is OK. Natural methods of contraception always allow the chance of conception, if this is what God plans.

protestant church view on contraception

It is the couple's responsibility to decide whether to have children, how many, and when. They teach contraception is sensible and should be encouraged, because children are more likely to be loved and cared for if their parents want them and can afford to bring them up well.

unitive marriage

marriage is regarded as a life long commitment that unites couples together in love

preparation for marriage

- most churches have now made it compulsory for you to attend pre-marital courses at parishes. this is so couples can fully understand the sacramentality and importance of marriage
- couples are encouraged to pray to god to ask for his advice and blessing on the marriage

purpose of marriage

Procreation; men and women were created to have children
Union; a life-long loving partnership
Educarion in faith- bringing chikdren up in the faith
Pattern for society: ideal family unit of mutual support

why has divorce increased so dramatically?

- is relatively quick and inexpensive
- doesn't have the negative stigma it used to
- people are less religious and do not feel so bound to their marriage vows
- people are less willing to put up with bad treatment from their partners

why get a divorce?

Adultery
Addiction (alcoholism, drugs, gambling)
Domestic violence
constant arguments
wanting different things out of life

christian teachings on divorce

"No human being must separate what God has joined together."

Church of England view on divorce

The CofE teaches that marriage is for life. BUT, It also recognises that some marriages sadly do fail

Catholic View on divorce

Believes that marriage is a sacred bond that is made with God as the witness. Even if a marriage is terminated legally, it can never be broken in the eyes Of God.
Marriage is a sacrament

Divorce

The legal dissolving of a marriage so that partners are free to marry someone else, in the eyes of the law

Annulment

A legal ruling that a valid marriage never existed, legally or religiously.

church of england view of remarriage

The Church of England recognises civil divorce and allows people to remarry IN CHURCH if the vicar approves. They think that the Church should reflect the forgiveness of God & allow people who have made mistakes the opportunity to find happiness in a second marriage.

roman catholic church view of remarriage

The Roman Catholic Church does not allow remarriage after divorce because it still sees the couple as married. Always married in the eyes of God.

things the vicar will consider for remarriage

Does the couple understand that divorce is a breach of God's will for marriage?
Do they have a determination for the new marriage to be a life- long faithful partnership?
Has either of the parties been divorced more than once?
Was their relationship a direct cause of the breakdown of a previous marriage?

catholic views of marriage

- should be for life, blessed by god
- have children ('go forth and multiply')
- sacrament
- spiritual bond of trust that reflects the love of god
- 'that is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife and they become one flesh'

CofE views of marriage

- don't allow same-sex couples to get married there
- god's gift at creation
- should be for life, blessed by god
- have children ('go forth and multiply')
- sacrament
- spiritual bond of trust that reflects the love of god

nuclear family

A couple and their children regarded as a basic social unit

bigamy

The offence of marrying someone while already married to another person

polygamy

the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time (they know about each other)

advantages of extended families

- childcare
- lots of friends for children/ support connections
- role models

advantages of nuclear families

- less people, more space, calm
- more flexible living

disadvantages of extended families

- bigger home needed
- tensions between people

disadvantages of nuclear families

- lack of support
- isolating

the purpose of families in christian terms

procreation - producing offspring
protection - keeping children safe from harm
education/ educating children in a faith - brining up children according to the religious beliefs of the parents

quotes for parent's responsibilities in families

'parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged'

quotes for children's responsibilities in families

'listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old'
'children it is your christian duty to obey your parents always"

gender prejudice

unfairly judging someone before the facts are known; holding biased opinions about an individual or group based on their gender

gender discrimination

Acting against someone on the basis of their gender

Women in the Church

The Salvation Army and United Reformed Church always allowed women ministers
The Church of England (1994) and the Baptist Church (1920s) started to allow women ministers
The Roman Catholic Church does not allow women to be ministers (priests).

men in the church

Priesthood began with Christ
He appointed men and it is important for the Church to protect the male Apostolic tradition
Christ was a man
It could make Sacraments invalid if God does not allow Women to hold spiritual grace in performing Sacraments.