cohabitation /interfaith

• cohabitation

  when an unmarried couple live together in a sexual relationship
• interfaith marriage

  when two ppl of 2 different religions marry
• interdenominational marriage

  marriage between 2 people of differen christian denominations
• why it is more common

  • declining rates of religious beliefs
  • changing gender roles
  • women expecting to start a career before they marry
• catholic views

  • opposes cohabitation as it involves sex before marriage
  • sex should only take place after marriage - "two shall become one flesh"
  • feel that cohabitating couples may be less commited to each other than married
  • if the couple have children , they may grow up in an unstable environment - goes against Aquinas' theory of Natural law
• liberal views

  • do not see cohabitation as wrong
  • feel that unmarried couples have the same commitment as married ones
• church of england views

  accept cohabitation if it is a step towards marriage
• catholic view of marrying non-catholics

  • may obtain permission to marry a non-catholic christians
  • marriage to a baptised christian is regarded as a sacrament.
• soa on interfaith marriage

  • anglican churches feel that interfaith marriage are enriching - Jesus spent time with different faiths + races - never discriminated!
  • The Bible encourage people to not enter into marriages outside of the christian community,
• buddhist teachings on cohabitation / interfaith

  • there is no rule in the Dharma to marry
  • following 3rd moral precept : avoid sexual immorality
  • do not consider marriage to be religious - it is acceptable to marry a non- buddhist