RELIGION AND LIFE 

3 - MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 

Contraception - 

Christian attitudes - 

1 - Catholic 

• Responsible parenthood - deciding on how many children to have and when to have them 
• Should achieve this through natural family planning instead of artificial methods of contraception 
• Pope Pius XI -condemned all forms of artificial contraception 
• Pope Pius XII - all Catholics should use natural methods of contraception 
• Pope Paul VI - only allowable forms of contraception are natural - confirmed in the Catechism 
• All sex should be unitive and creative 
• Some contraceptives bring about a very early abortion (abortifacient) 
• Artificial contraception leads to promiscuity, broken families, divorce and STD's 

2 - Non-Catholic Christians 

• All forms of contraception are permissible 
• Christianity is about love and justice - contraception improves womens' health and raises standard of living 
• Nothing in Bible that forbids use of contraceptives 
• 1930, Lambeth Conference of the worldwide Anglican Communion (Church of England) - Christians could use contraception to limit family size 
• Condoms are the best way to combat HIV/AIDS 

Jewish attitudes - 

1 - Ultra Orthodox 

• Don't approve of any artificial contraception unless mother's health is at risk 
• God's command that Jewish people should be fruitful - should have large families 
• Torah - male sperm is sacred and not to be killed 
• Rabbis teach that God created sex for having children 

2 - Orthodox 

• Allow women to use contraception after a couple has had 2 children 
• Torah, Talmud and rabbis - health of the mother should come first 
• Contraceptives for women don't kill the sperm 
• Mitzvot to have a family 

3 - Liberal/Reform Jews 

• Couples should make own decisions about contraception 
• God expects people to use intelligence and technology to prevent unwanted things from happening 
• Torah needs updating - contraception should be available to men and women 
• Better to use contraception than bring unwanted children into the world 

RELIGION AND LIFE 

3 - MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 

Homosexuality - 

Christian attitudes - 

1 - Catholic 

• Homosexuality isn't a sin, but homosexual sexual activity is a sin 
• Asks homosexuals to live without any sexual activity - will be helped to do this by the sacraments of the Church 
• Sinful to criticise homosexuals or attack their behaviour 
• Bible condemns homosexual sexual activity 
• Church tradition that any sexual activity should have the possibility of creating children 
• Is the teaching of the Magisterium 
• Church - teaches that people can't help their sexual orientation but they can control their sexual activity 
• Discriminating against people because of their sexual orientation is racism - sinful 

2 - Evangelical Protestant 

• Homosexuality is a sin 
• Homosexuals can be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit 
• Bible - homosexuality is a sin, believe it is the direct word of God 
• Bible - salvation of Christ can remove all sins (including homosexuality) 
• All Churches have said homosexuality is wrong, even now they have now changed their minds/teaching 
• RECENTLY condemned homophobia, said churches should welcome homosexuals 

3 - Liberal Protestant 

• Welcome homosexuals to Church 
• Accept homosexual relationships 
• Some provide blessings for civil partnerships 
• Bible texts condemning homosexuality show beliefs at the time, not word of God 
• Major Christian belief in love and acceptance means homosexuals must be accepted 
• If homosexual Christians feel the Holy Spirit approves of their homosexuality, it must be true 
• Christians should be open and honest and so homosexual Christians shouldn't be made to tell lies/hide sexuality 

Jewish attitudes - 

1 - Orthodox 

• Being homosexual isn't a sin 
• Homosexual sexual activity and homophobia are sins 
• Torah - condemns homosexual sexual activity 
• Torah and Talmud - marriage between a man and a woman is the only lawful form of sex 
• Any sexual activity should have the possibility of creating children 
• Mitzvot - Jewish adults should marry and raise a family 

2 - Liberal/reform 

• Homosexuality is acceptable 
• Torah needs to be re-interpreted in the light of modern society 
• Scientists believe sexual orientation is natural - must be given by God 
• Should treat others how they would want to be treated - must accept homosexuals 
• Labelling homosexuality is wrong leads to homophobia - evils of racism 

RELIGION AND LIFE 

3 - MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 

Family life - 

Why it is important for Christians - 

• A main purpose of Christian marriage is to have children and bring them up to be good Christians 
• Family created by God as basis of society and the only place for bringing up children 
• Family too important to be broken up by divorce 
• Teaches children the difference between right and wrong 
• Important for Christianity to continue and grow (brings children into the faith) 

However - 

• Jesus taught there are more important things than family 
• Catholic priests, nuns and monks leave family to serve God 

Why it is important to Jews - 

• Mitzvot for Jewish people to marry and have children 
• Children of Jewish parents are automatically Jewish - continuation of faith 
• Teaches children the difference between right and wrong
• Where Shabbat is served and festivals celebrated 
• Importance stated in Ten Commandments 

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 

RELIGION AND LIFE 

3 - MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 

Sex outside marriage - 

Christian attitudes - 

• Most believe sex outside marriage is wrong 
• God gave sex for procreation of children who should be brought up in Christian family - should only take place within marriage 
• Bible - sex outside marriage is sinful 
• Catechism - pre-marital sex is wrong 
• All Christians against adultery - breaks wedding vows, banned by Ten Commandments and condemned by Jesus 
• Some accept cohabitation before marriage, but only in a long-term relationship leading to marriage 

Jewish attitudes - 

• Believe sex outside marriage is wrong 
• Torah - forbids sex before marriage 
• Talmud - sex should only take place in marriage 
• Sex is for procreation of children - should be raised in a family where mother and father are married 
• Adultery banned in Ten Commandments, breaks marriage contract, would harm family (should not be harmed - where children learn about Judaism and how to live a Jewish life) 
• Progressive Jews (some) - accept cohabitation before marriage, but only in a long-term relationship leading to marriage

RELIGION AND LIFE 

3 - MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 

Changing attitudes to marriage and family life - 

1960's - 

• Young people were expected to only have sex after marriage 
• Most people married young and in church 
• Divorces were very rare and frowned upon 
• Families were nuclear (husband, wife and children) 
• Male homosexuality was a criminal offence 

How attitudes have changed - 

• Most people have sex before marriage 
• Many couples cohabit instead of marry - more children brought up by cohabiting parents 
• Average marriage age has decreased 
• Most marriages don't take place in a church 
• Divorce is accepted and a lot more common 
• More single parent families and re-constituted families 
• More extended families 
• More mothers in employment 
• Society treats homosexual sex the same way as heterosexual sex 
• Homosexual couples can now have a civil partnership - same rights and treatment as an opposite-sex couple 

Why things have changed - 

1 - Cohabitation and marriage 

• Contraception - safer to have sex before marriage 
• Less people go to church - not encouraged to abstain from sex until marriage 
• Media and celebrities make cohabitation seem more respectable - more popular 
• Media shows sexual relationships outside marriage as the norm 

2 - Divorce 

• New laws - now easier and cheaper 
• More equality for women - no longer accept unequal treatment from men, will divorce if abused etc. 
• Women are more financially dependant, can support themselves after a divorce 
• Most divorces occur 10 years after marriage - big change in average 

3 - Family life 

• Cohabitation more popular 
• Increase in divorce - more re-marriage and therefore more re-constituted families (as well as single parent families) 
• More mothers in paid employment - grandparents look after children 

4 - Homosexuality 

• Law changes - easier to be openly homosexual 
• Society more aware and accepting 
• Medical research has shown that homosexuality is natural - people accept equal status and rights for homosexual couples 
• Media coverage of gay couples - increased acceptance 
• Gay rights organisations (eg: LGBT(Q) ) 

RELIGION AND LIFE 

3 - MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

Key words - 
Adultery - a sexual act between a married person and someone other than their marriage partner 
Promiscuity - sex with a number of partners without commitment 
Homosexuality - sexual attraction to the same sex 
Pre-marital sex - sex before marriage 
Contraception - intentionally preventing pregnancy from occurring 
Procreation - making a new life 
Faithfulness - staying with your marriage partner and having sex only with them 
Civil partnership - legal ceremony giving a homosexual couple the same legal rights and a heterosexual married couple 
Nuclear family - mother, father and children living as a unit 
Re-constituted family - where 2 sets of children (step-brothers/sisters) become one family when their divorced parents marry eachother 
Re-marriage - marrying again after being divorced from a previous marriage 
Cohabitation - living together without being married