relationships and families

• Adultery

  A married person having sex with someone who isn't their husband/wife.

  
• Agape


  Selfless love (taught and lived by Jesus).

  
• Annulment

  The declaration that a marriage wasn't a proper marriage. Not to be confused with divorce.

  
• Celibacy


  Never getting married or having sex.

  
• Civil marriage

  A non-religious marriage recognised by the state. In the UK this can include opposite or same-sex partners.

  
• Civil partnership

  The joining of a same-sex couple with the same rights and responsibilities as in a civil marriage.

  
• Cohabitation


  Living together in a sexual relationship without being married.

  
• Contraception

  Anything that aims to prevent a woman becoming pregnant.

  
• Divorce

  The formal ending of a marriage.

  
• Heterosexuality


  Being sexually attracted to someone of the opposite sex.

  
• Homosexuality


  Being sexually attracted to someone of the same sex.

  
• Marriage

  A legal union between a man and woman (or in some countries like the UK, two people of the same sex) as partners in a relationship.

  
• Procreation


  Having children.

  
• Promiscuity


  Having many sexual partners.

  
• Remarriage

  Getting married again after a divorce.

  
• Rhythm method

  A type of natural contraception in which a couple only have sex when the woman is at the least fertile period of her menstrual cycle.

  
• Sacrament

  A ceremony by which Christians believe God acts directly on a person. Catholics believe marriage is a sacrament, and so can't be undone by divorce.

  
• Sex

  Physical intercourse.

  
• Submissive

  Obedient (e.g. women should be submissive to men).

  
• Withdrawal method

  A type of natural contraception in which the man 'withdraws' before ejaculation.

  
• Opening statement/preface

  Ministers talks of being in the presence of God at a wedding, and also reference is made to God (Jesus) being at the wedding in Cana in the gospels. Marriage is described as a 'joyful commitment to the end of their lives' and as 'the foundation of family life'.

  
• Declarations

  Some vows for men and women. Made by the minister and told to the man and woman. 'The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God'.

  
• Promises/vows

  'To be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward'. A vow to promise to your husband/wife that you will be together forever and stay through anything.

  
• Exchange/giving of rings

  'I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage...within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit'.

  
• The Proclamation

  This is where the Priest addresses the people in the ceremony, 'In the presence of God...I therefore proclaim they are husband and wife'.

  
• Signing of the register

  Legal binding between husband and wife. Takes place after ceremony. Signing the paper.

  
• Prayers for the couple

  Prayers made at the ceremony to bless the couple and wish them the best.

  
• Religious marriage

  A union between two people, typically of the opposite sex, which is recognised by a religious institution.

  
• Homosexual sex


  Sex between two people of the same sex.

  
• Marital sex


  Sex between husband and wife.

  
• Non-marital sex


  Sex between non-married people.

  
• Extra-marital sex


  Adultery.

  
• Casual sex

  Sexual activity outside the context of a romantic relationship (promiscuity).

  
• Pre-marital sex


  Having sex before you get married.

  
• Denomination


  Term used to describe a branch of Christianity (e.g. Catholic, Church of England, Quaker etc.)

  
• Church


  Term used to describe a Christian place of worship or a denomination.

  
• Nuclear family


  Mother, father and children living as one unit.

  
• Single-parent family


  Families where children are brought up by one parent.

  
• Extended family


  Parents, children and grandparents, aunts and uncles living as a unit or very near to each other.

  
• Reconstituted family


  Where two sets of children (stepbrothers and sisters) become one family when their parents marry each other.