RELIGION AND LIFE
3 - MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY
Divorce -
Christian attitudes -
1 - Catholic Church
- Doesn't allow religious divorce or re-marriage
- Only way a marriage between baptised Catholics can be ended is by death of one of the partners
- Allows civil divorce if it's better for the children - couple are still married in the eyes of God (cannot re-marry)
- Jesus taught that divorce is wrong
- Couple made covenant with God - 'cannot be broken by any earthly power'
- Catechism - a marriage cannot be dissolved, religious divorce is impossible
- No re-marriage as there is no religious divorce - bigamy (2 husbands/wives) and adultery
- If marriage is proved to be an untrue Christian marriage (not consummated) - can have an annulment so they can re-marry
2 - Non-Catholic Churches
- Divorce is wrong but allowed if the marriage as broken down
- Permits divorced people to remarry
- Sometimes asked to promise that this time the marriage it for life
- Matthew 19:9 - allowed divorce for a partners adultery
- Broken marriage - effects of staying together would be a greater evil than the divorce itself, 'the lesser of two evils'
- Christians repent and confess their sins so they are forgiven - should have another chance at marriage if they are keen to make it work this time
- Believe it is better to divorce than to live in hatred and quarrel
Jewish attitudes -
1 - Divorce is wrong
- Talmud - divorce is an offence to God
- Children need to be brought up as good followers of Judaism for faith to survive
- (some) Rabbis - divorce is wrong because of the harm it can cause for the family (financial, emotional etc.)
2 - Orthodox Jews
- Allow divorce
- Only if husband has a get from the Bet Din
- Torah - various statements that permit divorce
- Contract that can be broken in certain circumstances
- Halakhah - only men can apply to Bet Din for a get
3 - Reform Jews
- Allow divorce
- Men and women can apply for a get from the Bet Din
- Torah and halakhah need to be interpreted for modern life and situations
- Men and women should have equal rights in religion and therefore divorce
- Lesser evil than forcing couple to live in hatred and bitterness
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