Relationship

• Adultery


  Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse
• Divorce


  To legally end a marriage
• Cohabitation

  To live together in a sexual relationship
• Commitment


  A sense of dedication and obligation to someone or something
• Responsibilities


  Actions/duties you are expected to carry out
• Roles


  Position, status or function of a person in society, as well as the behaviour expected of them
• Types of families


  • Nuclear family - two parents with children
  • Extended family - lots of members of the same family (e.g. aunts, uncles, cousins etc) living in close proximity
  • Reconstituted family - people with children from previous relationships
  • Single parent family - mother / father raising children alone
  • Childless couple
  • Same sex family - two people of the same sex raising children
• What will the exams look like?
• There will be two exams that you must sit for this course:
• Paper 1: Study of Christianity and a World Faith (we will learn about Islam but you could answer any of them if you wanted!)
• Paper 2: Religious, Philosophical and Ethical issues (Relationships and Life and Death)
• Each paper follows the same format x 2:
• Exam question types


  • 2 mark "What do x mean by y?"
  • 5 mark "Describe the significance of x for y"
  • 8 mark "Explain why x is important in/for y"
  • 15 (+3 SPAG) mark "quote" – discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view
• Christian teachings about the purpose of marriage

  • Marriage is part of God's plan of creation
  • Brings love and fulfilment to the couple
  • Creates a stable family life for children
  • Vows show a lifelong commitment
  • The exchange of rings is a symbol of life without end
  • Marriage ceremonies often held in a church or chapel and performed by a religious minister
  • Regarded as a sacrament in some traditions (Catholic/Orthodox)
• Mark 10:6-8: '"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh."'
• Christian marriage ceremony


  Description of at least four key features
• Islamic teachings about the purpose of marriage

  • Marriage is a gift from God
  • It is the basis of family life
  • The wedding ceremony, or nikkah, is a formal ceremony with witnesses to the vows and signing of the contract
  • Islam permits men to have up to four wives but each wife must be treated equally and his other wives must agree
• Qur'an 30:21: '"And of His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He planted love and compassion between you."'
• Muslim marriage ceremony


  Description of at least four key features
• When a person wants to marry someone from outside their religious tradition

  Issues may arise
• Arguments for and against the statement

  • Their views are outdated
  • Their views are not outdated
  • Many religions specify it must be a man and a woman - gay marriage is legal and accepted in many countries
  • Most people still use some element of religious ceremony in their marriages, showing that they are still relevant
  • "Til death do us part" - most marriages end within 5 years
  • Although many people get divorced, the added security of God involved in a marriage may make people work harder to preserve it
  • In Islam, you are technically allowed more than one wife - in many societies, this is illegal / seen as wrong
  • Although religious texts may say things that are old-fashioned or illegal in some countries, the religious leaders in those countries adapt their teachings to fit the society (e.g. most CoE churches allow gay marriage)
  • In some religions (e.g. Islam), the bride is "given away" by their father/guardian - many people would argue this treats the woman as an object
  • Many people now treat the more old-fashioned elements of religious marriage as a tradition rather than a serious thing (e.g. many women may want to be "given away" but know they are not an object)