issues of relationships

• adultery: voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who isn't their partner.
• divorce: the legal ending of a marriage.
• cohabitation: to live together in a sexual relationship without being married or in a civil partnership.
• commitment: a sense of dedication or obligation to someone or something.
• contraception: methods used to prevent a woman becoming pregnant, during or after sex.
• gender equality: people of all genders being afforded the same rights and opportunities.
• responsibilities: actions or duties you are expected to carry out.
• roles: position, status or function of a person in society.
• nuclear family: a male and female parent and their children living together in the same household.
• Most Christians believe the ideal family type is a nuclear family as it supports God's plan. However, Quakers support any family.
• house roles: literal Christians believe the family should be patriarchal. This is supported by the quote 'wives submit to your husbands as you do to the lord'. However, liberal Christians believe men and women should have equal roles.
• Muslims believe the ideal family type is an extended family. Benefits of this is that there is better access to childcare, support for elderly parents, and it strengthens the ummah.
• house roles: Muslims believe in both gender equality and a patriarchal society. A quote that shows Muslim beliefs regarding the patriarchy is 'a man is the guardian of his family (...) a woman is the guardian of her husband's home and his children'.
• extended family: a family that includes both parents and their children, and other relatives.
• Christian marriage: supported by the quote 'become one flesh'. Marriage is the first step in God's plan. It allows couples to create a family. For Roman Catholics it is a sacrament. It is meant to last forever ('til death do us part').
• Islamic marriage: it allows a couple to have sexual relations. It also allows a couple to have children. It extends the ummah.
• arranged marriage: a marriage between two people who have been chosen by their parents or other relatives due to the belief that love leads to people making poor decisions.
• forced marriage: a marriage against someone's will. It is not allowed in Islam as it is against Shariah law.
• temporary arranged marriage: this is only allowed by Shia muslims. It is a marriage that only lasts a small amount of time and is to fulfil the sexual and emotional needs of some muslims.
• mixed marriage: when a muslim man marries a Christian or Jewish woman (these religions are also part of the Abrahamic faiths).
• Christian marriage ceremony: the priest welcomes the congregation. The couple then say their vows. The rings are exchanged. Prayers are then said for the couple. There will be readings from the Bible. The couple then sign the register.
• Muslim marriage ceremony: The Wali offers the bride to the groom. The groom pays the mahr to the bride. Then the marriage contract is signed by the bride, groom and a witness. A sermon is given to bless the marriage. The walima is then held by the groom.
• annulment: the legal process where a marriage is declared invalid or void.
• Christian divorce: Roman Catholics do not allow divorce. This could be because of the quote 'til death do us part'. However, RC's do allow annulments if the marriage hasn't been consummated, didn't happen in a church, or if one partner was forced into it. Church of England allow divorce if adultery has been committed ('except for sexual immorality'). Methodists allow divorce.
• muslim divorce: muslims allow divorce but encourage remarriage. This is because of the quote 'do not force a woman to stay with you who wishes to leave'. If a couple does decide to divorce, they must first try to reconcile, then wait 3 months to check the wife isn't pregnant (Iddah). During this time, the husband must say Talaq 3 times.
• Christian contraception: Roman Catholics do not allow artificial contraception. They only allow natural methods of withdrawal or the rhythm method. Church of England allow all types of contraception as long as both partners agree.
• muslim contraception: muslims allow contraception as long as it isn't harmful to the body and both partners agree. Scripture relating to contraception could be 'do not kill your children for fear of poverty'.
• Christian same sex relations:

  Roman Catholics: don't agree with homosexual relationships because it prevents God's plan and due to the quote 'if a man has sexual relations with a man as he does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable'.

  C of E: allow same sex relationships as long as they remain celibate.

  Quakers: allow same sex relations because of the quote 'it is the nature and quality of a relationship that matters'.
• muslim same sex relations: they do not allow it as the purpose of marriage is to have children. This could be because of the quote 'lesbianism by women is adultery between them. Kill the one that is doing it and also the one that it is being done to'.
• Christian women in worship:

  for:

  • men and women were both created in the 'image of God'.
  • 'nor is there male and female, you are all one in Christ Jesus'.
  • Libby Lane became the first female bishop in 2015.

  against:

  • 'women should remain silent in churches'
  • 'wives, submit to your husbands as you do to the lord'
  • Jesus only had male apostles.
• Muslim women in worship:

  for:

  • Raheel Raza was the first UK woman to lead mixed prayers at a UK mosque.
  • the Hadiths mention some of Muhammad's wives leading prayers.

  against:

  • 'the men have a degree over them'