Marriage And The Family

• What are three purposes of marriage to Christians?

  1. to provide companionship and support between two people

  2. to enjoy having sexual relationships within marriage and have children

  3. to make a lifelong commitment to another person, establishing a permanent relationship, thereby also providing stability to society through the teaching of good moral behaviour.
• Most Christians believe marriage is a ____________________________ - a ceremony in which God is involved.

  sacrament
• What are Vows at a wedding?

  words that the man and women in a marriage say t o one another to show that the marriage is sacred and binding.
• Does God want everyone to marry?

  no, Jesus himself was not married and some Christians believe they have a vocation from God where marriage is not a requirement.
• What do Humanists believe about marriage?

  They do not accept marriage as a religious institution bless by God however, they do accept marriage as a commitment that a couple make together.
• What is cohabitation?


  living together in a sexual relationship without being married
• Why do some Christians disagree with Cohabitation?

  Marriage provides stability and and is a stable place for a family, this is why they do not accept cohabitation as an alternative for marriage.
• Where do Christians believe the only appropriate place for sex is?

  in a marriage
• Why do Christians believe sex was created?

  for procreation
• what is forbidden by Christians in terms of sexual relationships?

  1. casual sex and relationships

  2. adultery is forbidden in the ten commandments

  3. married couples should stay faithful as they made a promise to god in there vowels

  4. st paul in the bible condemns homosexual acts as 'shameful'

  5. being sexually pure is advised and many Christians tale Chasity before marriage
• Alternative Christians views on sex before marriage

  some Christians allow the idea of sex when you are in a relationship and understand not all couple will wait for marriage if they are in love however, sexual promiscuity is not acceptable.
• what do humanists believe about sex before marriage?

  they believe that consenting adults should be allowed to share a sexual relationship provided it does not harm anybody else.
• What do atheists believe about sex before marriage?

  they are unlikely to have a problem with sex before marriage or with homosexuality
• nuclear family

  Mother, father and children living as a unit
• blended family


  a family whose members were once part of other families, step sisters, brothers, mums and dads etc.
• Same sex family


  two same sex parents and their children
• extended families


  Households made up of several generations
• single-parent family


  a family in which only one parent is present to care for the children
• What do Christians believe to be the purpose of family?

  1. to provide the right place for a married couple to have children

  2. to provide stability for society, as children can be raised in the correct social and moral setting

  3. to teach children the difference between right and wrong

  4. to raise children as Christians and introduce them to the Christian faith
• What do Christians believe about the role of a parent in the family?

  - they have a responsibility to get married before having kids if able

  - they are responsible to love, support and care for their children and keep them safe

  - should raise there children in the christian faith, get them baptised or christened and introduce them to the christian community
• What do Christians believe about the role of a child in the family?

  - the bible teaches that children should honour, obey and respect there parents

  - children are expected to to care of there parents once they are older, just as there parents once did for them
• What do Christians believe is the importance of family?

  - they strengthen society and provide structure and support

  - where people feel safest - with people they love
• How do Christians feel about less traditional family types? (family types other than nuclear)


  they prefer the traditional family unit of a nuclear family however, today Christians are much more accepting the church would try and be helpful to all different kinds of families if they can.
• How can the local parish help families?

  - supporting couples who are expecting children

  - organising family events and special family worship services

  - running parental support classes

  - being involved in christenings or marriages

  - encouraging children to attend Sunday school and special services

  - providing counselling support
• What are rites of passage?

  the celebrate key points in a persons life and include occasions such as, marriage, christening or birth.
• What are the christian teachings about contraception?

  there is no direct teachings in the bible, since it's a more modern issue, but Christians rely on there church teachings.
• What are the catholic teachings about contraception?

  they believe that every sexual act should be open to the possibility of a child, so artificial methods of contraception may not be used. They believe contraception encourages casual sex.
• what are the protestant beliefs about contraception?

  they believe that the main purpose of sex is for procreation, sex is also for pleasure and enjoyment and a way to show love for you partner therefore, contraception is a sensible method of family planning and all types are acceptable.
• what are humanist beliefs about contraception?

  humanists generally have no issue with the use of contraception they argue that if 'every child being a wanted child, and in better, healthier lives for women, it must be a good thing'.
• what are atheists attitudes to family planning?

  they think people should use contraception when;

  - they want to plan when to have a family

  - they are not ready to have kids

  - a couples lifestyle may not be compatible with having children

  - pregnancy could be harmful to the mother

  - they don't want STI's

  - the couple carry genetic disorders
• what are the bible teachings about divorce?

  lots of them hold different views about divorce however, marriage is intended to be for life.
• what do Catholics believe about divorce?

  - divorce is not recognised because marriage is for life

  - jesus said divorce is wrong

  - marriage is a sacrament and divorce would break the promise made to god

  - the bond of marriage is not broken even if a couple receives a legal civil divorce

  - remarriage is no accepted

  - a legal separation may be accepted in some cases, where care of children is needed.
• what do humanist believe about divorce?

  they believe divorce can cause a breakdown in the family however, they accept that divorce is sometimes necessary - they don't associate marriage with god so they are not going against his word.
• what do atheists believe about divorce?

  they may adopt situation ethics, where they consider the best thing to do in each individual situation. And always do the most loving thing.
• What does the bible say about equality between men and women?

  some parts of the bible say that god made women as a 'helpmate' for a man however, other interpretations suggest men and women should work along side each other.
• what do Catholics believe in terms of gender equality?


  Catholics accept that men and women are equal but were given different roles by god. man was physically created differently in order to work the land and women was made to assist him.
• what are the humanist and atheist views on gender equality?

  they are likely to accept more modern interpretations of the roles of men and women, they believe in the equality of men and women and support there roles as long as they are happy in them.
• gender prejudice

  the tendency to hold a hostile attitude toward an individual because of his or her gender but taking no action
• gender discrimination


  treating someone differently due to there gender
• what do Catholics believe about gender roles within the church?

  only men are accepted in the position of bishop, priest or deacon and pope. they believe these roles represent Jesus, who was a man.