theme A
sex and marriage
contraception
quote | explanation |
“be fruitful and multiply” | the purpose of sex is to have children of faith and spread the faith |
“united to his wife, and they become one flesh” | the purpose of sex is to consummate a marriage, so contraception can be forgiven |
“she will be saved through child baring” | the purpose of sex is to have children and contraception is wrong |
“let her breasts fill you at all times with delight” | the purpose of sex is pleasure so contraception can be forgiven |
“do not kill your child” | contraception could be seen as killing a child/preventing the life of a child which is wrong |
sex before/outside marriage
quote | |
“God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” | sex outside of marriage is unacceptable |
“you shall not commit adultery” | sex outside of marriage is unacceptable |
“anyone who does not love does not know God” | sex is arguably and expression of love which is promoted by God |
“if they cannot control themselves, they should marry” | this acknowledges that sexual desire is natural, along with encouraging relationships modern interpretations could mean that as long as people are expressing love and intimacy sex outside of marriage may be acceptable |
‘flee from sexual immorality’ | sex before marriage is unacceptable |
‘let marriage be held in honour among all’ | adultery breaks the sacred marriage vows which were made before God |
Shariah law punishes adultery | this is the main Islamic law and Shariah law can possibly give the death penalty for adultery |
importance/nature of marriage
quote | explanation |
“let marriage be held in honour among all” | marriage is an honour that people are lucky to be part of |
“a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife” | God instructs marriage |
“husbands love your wives” | marriage is a way to show love |
“the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth” | the lord will be present in your marriage |
“be fruitful and multiply” | marriage should be for procreation which God encourages |
“become one in flesh” | marriage should be lifelong and monogamous |
ISLAM - “they become like garments for one another” | support one another in a loving relationship |
ISLAM - procreation is a duty for God | spread the religion |
key terms
cohabitation - a couple living together without being married
compassion - sympathy and concern for the suffering of others
contraception - precautions taken to prevent pregnancy and STIs
divorce - legal ending of a marriage
family planning - planning when to have a family and how big
gender discrimination - acting on gender prejudice
gender equality - all genders have equal status and values
gender prejudice - negative thoughts or feelings based on gender
nuclear family - family made up of two parents and their children
polygamy - having multiple spouses
procreation - having children
remarriage - marriage after a previous divorce
vows - promises made during a wedding ceremony
human sexuality
Christian | Islam | |
negative | bible - ‘it is detestable’ bible - ‘men who have sex with men will not inherit the kingdom of God’ catechism - homosexual acts are unnatural and go against God’s plan and procreation | Qur’an - ‘dishonour those who take part in homosexual acts’ Qur’an - ‘God’s plan is for heterosexual relationships’ |
positive | quakers - ‘it is the nature and quality of the relationship that matters’ pope Francis - ‘who am I to judge?’ situation ethics - ‘love is the only universal’ | n/a |
cohabitation
Christianity | Islam | |
positive | ‘it is the nature and quality of the relationship that matters’ - quakers | nothing against it in the bible |
negative | see it as wrong because we should ‘flee from sexual immorality’ which could be caused by cohabitation | “remain chaste until marriage” - cohabitation could cause temptation for sex before marriage |
same sex marriage
Christianity | Islam | |
negative | leads to same sex acts which are sinful marriage is for procreation marriage is a sacred covenant with one man and one woman - Catholics | Qur’an - Gods plan is for heterosexual relationships “do not abandon the wives which God has made for you” |
positive | quakers allow it becomes love is more important than gender adoption | n/a |