Family and relationships

• Human sexuality


  How people express themselves as sexual beings
• In Britain, sex before marriage, having children outside of marriage, and open homosexual relationships have become more common
• The age of consent (when legally old enough to freely agree to have sex) is 16
• Heterosexual relationships

  Relationships between members of the opposite sex
• Homosexual relationships

  Relationships between members of the same sex
• Religious views on heterosexual relationships

  • Christianity
  • Islam
• Christian view on heterosexual relationships

  • Marriage is the only valid place for heterosexual relationships because it is part of God's plan for humans
  • Christian views about sex before marriage vary but all are against unfaithfulness
• Genesis 2:24 [NIV]: 'That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.'
• Muslim view on heterosexual relationships

  • Heterosexual relationships are the normal pattern of behaviour; Muslims are expected to marry and have a family
  • The only permitted form of sexual relationship in Islam is that between husband and wife, considered a blessing from God
• Hadith: 'Marry those who are single among you for [God] will develop their moral traits [through marriage].'
• Religious views on homosexual relationships

  • Christianity
  • Islam
• Christian view on homosexual relationships

  Some Christians oppose homosexual relationships because the Bible says sex between two men is forbidden (Leviticus 18:22) and Paul taught that the sexually immoral, including 'men who have sex with men', will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 [NIV])
• Muslim view on homosexual relationships

  Most Muslims believe the Qur'an and Hadith teach that homosexuality is against God's will and forbidden
• Qur'an 26:165-166: 'Must you, unlike [other] people, lust after males and abandon the wives that God has created for you? You are exceeding all bounds.'
• Many Muslims agree with those Christians who believe that homosexual relationships are against the natural law as they cannot produce children, therefore are not what God intended
• The Catholic Church teaches that homosexuals are not sinful, but should remain chaste (not have sex) to avoid sinful acts. Many Muslims also believe that homosexuals should control their actions and not break God's law. Otherwise, Muslims believe, the person will have to answer to God on the Day of Judgement
• Some Muslims agree with more liberal Christians who accept homosexual relationships that are loving and committed. For example, the Church of England welcomes homosexuals living in committed relationships, but does not allow marriage in church
• Religious views on sexual relationships before marriage

  • Christianity
  • Islam
• Christian view on sexual relationships before marriage

  • For many Christians, sex expresses a deep, lifelong union that requires the commitment of marriage
  • Some liberal Christians, however, think that sex before marriage can be a valid expression of love for each other, particularly if the couple are intending marriage
• 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 [NIV]: '... whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit...'
• Muslim view on sexual relationships before marriage

  • Muslims believe sex is a gift from God that must be managed responsibly within marriage
  • The Qur'an forbids sex before marriage; under Islamic law (Shari'ah), sex before marriage is considered a serious sin, like adultery and rape
• Abdul Wahid Hamid, Islam: The Natural Way: 'The only way to protect all within society is to maintain a society where only a man and his wife share the act of sex.'
• Religious views on sexual relationships outside marriage

  • Christianity
  • Islam
• Christian view on sexual relationships outside marriage

  • Adultery breaks vows Christian couples make before God and threatens the stable relationship needed for their children's security
  • It is against one of the Ten Commandments
  • It is against Jesus' teaching that lust, which could lead to adultery, is wrong
• Exodus 20:14 [NIV]: 'You shall not commit adultery.'
• Matthew 5:27-28 [NIV]: 'Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.'
• Jesus forgave a woman caught in adultery but ordered her to leave her life of sin
• Muslim view on sexual relationships outside marriage

  • Muslims should avoid situations that could lead to sexual sins
  • The Qur'an forbids adultery
  • Married couples should not have to go outside of marriage for fulfilment
• Qur'an 17:32: 'And do not go anywhere near adultery: it is an outrage, and an evil path.'
• Hadith: 'A man should not stay with a woman in seclusion unless he is a Dhu-Mahram [relative].'
• Types of contraception

  • Artificial (e.g. condoms, the pill)
  • Natural (e.g. the rhythm method)
  • Permanent (sterilisation)
• In Britain, there is widespread acceptance of contraception to help family planning, prevent unwanted pregnancies, reduce global overpopulation and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections
• Christian attitudes towards contraception and family planning

  • Catholic and Orthodox
  • Anglican and non-conformist
• Catholic and Orthodox Christian view on contraception

  • Artificial contraception goes against natural law/purpose of marriage and can encourage selfishness/infidelity
  • The purposes of sex (having children and expressing love) should not be separated
• Humanae Vitae, 1968: ''Every sexual act should have the possibility of creating new life.''
• Anglican and non-conformist Christian view on contraception

  • People should only have as many children as they can care for
  • Allow contraception to enable couples to develop relationship first/space out pregnancies to avoid harming mother's health
• Anglican Lambeth Conference, 1930: 'The Anglican Lambeth Conference approved artificial contraception used 'in the light of Christian principles''
• Muslim attitudes towards contraception and family planning

  • For the use of contraception
  • Against the use of contraception
• Muslim view in favour of contraception

  • Contraception is not for unmarried people, but may be used for family planning, e.g. if a wife's health is at risk, to space out pregnancies or to avoid serious financial difficulties
  • Some prefer natural methods, but artificial contraception is fine as long as it does not cause an abortion or prevent children altogether (permanent forms)
• Qur'an 4:28: 'God wishes to lighten your burden; man was created weak.'