Nature of Families

• The nuclear family is a traditional family structure consisting of a married couple and their biological or adopted children - some Christians argue this is the ideal.
• Extended families include relatives beyond the nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, living together or in close proximity.
• Single-parent families consist of one parent raising one or more children without the presence or support of the other parent.
• Purposes of the Family:

  • Procreation – the family should be for the purpose of having and bringing up children.
  • Stability – the family should be for providing a secure, stable environment for children.
  • Faith – the family should be a way of bringing children up as good Christians.
• Quote for having kids:

  ‘Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever’.

  ‘Honour your mother and father."
• Role of children within the family

  Christian: Children told to ‘Honour your father and mother’ (Bible) - applies to children of all ages.

  Includes giving care / respect to the elderly member of the family.

  ‘Children obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord.’ (Bible).

  Children bring joy to parents - ‘Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children’ (Bible).
• Role of children within the family

  Islam: Muslims have a duty to respect and care for their parents as they get older.

  The Qur’an says being unkind or disrespectful to one’s parents is a great sin, (Qur’an).

  ‘It is one of the greatest sins that a man should curse his parents’. (Hadith)

  ‘Heaven is under the feet of the mothers.’ (Hadith)