relationships and families

• Human sexuality


  How people express themselves as sexual beings
• Puberty

  When people typically start to experience sexual feelings
• Sexual intercourse

  A natural part of human biology and often leads to reproduction, which involves having children
• Heterosexual relationship


  One involving a member of the opposite sex, typically between a man and a woman
• Homosexual relationship


  One involving members of the same sex, typically between a man and a man or a woman and a woman
• In the past, the Christian Church wielded significant influence, and its attitudes towards human sexuality were widely accepted by society
• Over the last 50 years, attitudes towards sexual relationships in Britain have evolved considerably. Concepts such as sex before marriage, promiscuity, homosexuality, and having children outside of marriage are now widely accepted
• Legal changes in the UK include setting the age of consent at 16, laws aimed at protecting individuals under 16 from exploitation and abuse, and the legalization and recognition of homosexual relationships through civil partnerships or marriages
• Films, TV shows, books, and magazines often portray the idea that sex before marriage is commonplace, reflecting contemporary attitudes towards sexual relationships in Britain
• Young people in Britain may sometimes feel pressure to engage in sex before marriage, reflecting societal norms and expectations
• Genesis 2:24: '"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."'
• The Catholic and Anglican Churches teach that sex before marriage is wrong, emphasizing the importance of remaining sexually pure or chaste until marriage
• Some more liberal Christians believe that sex before marriage can be a valid expression of love, as long as the couple are fully committed to each other for life or intend to get married
• Christians teach that sex should not be casual or taken lightly, as it devalues the God-given gift of sexuality. It is considered wrong to use people for sex or to use sex solely for temporary pleasure
• St. Paul: '"The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19)'
• Sexual relationships outside of marriage in Christianity

  Refer to sex between two people where at least one person is married to someone else. This is often termed adultery or having an affair
• Christians view adultery as wrong, as it goes against the commandment "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). It breaks the marriage vows made before God to be faithful to each other for life and involves lies, secrecy, and betrayal of trust
• Jesus: '"Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28)'
• Jesus forgave a woman who had been caught committing adultery but instructed her to leave her life of sin behind (John 8:1-11). This demonstrates Jesus' compassion for sinners but also his call to repentance and transformation
• Some Christians oppose homosexual relationships citing biblical passages such as Leviticus 18:22 and St. Paul's warnings in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 in the New Testament
• The Church of England is divided on the topic of homosexuality. While most Anglicans accept homosexuals living in committed relationships, same-sex marriage in church is not permitted
• Some more liberal Christians see loving, faithful, committed homosexual relationships as being equally full of self-giving love and faithfulness as heterosexual relationships
• The Methodist Church and United Reform Church in England conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies, reflecting a more inclusive approach to homosexuality
• Family planning


  Involves planning when to have a family and the size of that family through the use of birth control practices and/or contraception
• Contraception or family planning


  Refers to the methods used to prevent a pregnancy from occurring. These methods can be categorized into three types: natural, artificial, and permanent
• Natural contraception methods

  • The rhythm method, which involves tracking the menstrual cycle to determine the times when a woman would be most fertile, allowing the couple to avoid sex during those times
• Artificial contraception methods


  • Condoms, birth control pills, or devices like intrauterine devices (IUDs). Some methods, like the "morning after" pill, prevent the fertilized egg from developing
• Permanent contraceptive methods

  Involve making a person incapable of reproduction, such as through sterilization procedures
• Most non-religious people in British society accept the use of contraception as a responsible action for family planning. It is seen as a means to prevent unwanted pregnancies, to plan families, and to help stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• While recognizing children as blessings, Christians acknowledge that there may be times when it would not be responsible to bring children into the world. Factors such as economic, environmental, or physical reasons might lead to delaying having a child
• Christians differ in their views on acceptable methods of contraception. Some, like the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, advocate for natural contraception methods only, while others, like many Protestant denominations, find artificial contraception acceptable for responsible family planning
• The Church of England approves of artificial contraception, provided it is done in the light of Christian principles, as stated in the Lambeth Conference of 1930
• Some Christians who believe that life starts from the moment of conception oppose contraceptive methods that prevent the fertilized egg from developing because they see it as causing an abortion, which is considered a form of killing
• Many religious people, including Christians, do not agree with sterilization, which permanently prevents people from having children
• Genesis 2:24: '"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh,"'
• Some Christians, particularly in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, view marriage as a sacrament, a lifelong union between a man and a woman blessed by God. They believe that the love between the couple reflects the love of Jesus Christ for the Church
• According to Christian beliefs, marriage serves several purposes, including providing a proper place for enjoying a sexual relationship, procreation, and raising children within a religious faith. Additionally, marriage is seen as a source of love, friendship, and support for life, enduring through both good and bad times
• Civil partnership


  A legal union of same-sex couples, which has been legal in the UK since 2004
• Same-sex marriage


  A marriage between partners of the same sex, which became legal in England, Wales, and Scotland in 2014, and in Ireland in 2015. Same-sex marriage grants same-sex couples the same rights and protections before the law as opposite-sex married couples
• Many Christians, including the Catholic Church, oppose same-sex marriage because they are opposed to homosexuality. They believe that marriage should be a unique relationship between a man and a woman, primarily concerned with procreation. Some Christians argue that permitting same-sex couples to marry changes the nature of marriage