2.1 - marriage

• christians believe that marriage:

  • was created by god at the beginning of the world so that a couple can have a lifelong relationship of love and faithfulness
  • should be between one man and one woman (monogamy)
  • is the only acceptable way to have sexual relationships
  • is the way to start a family and have children
  • is the way new life is brought to the church through christian famililes
  • was established by god to preserve society
  • is a sacrament (catholics, orthadox)
• humanists/athiest attitudes

  • up to the individual whether they get married or not, or if they want to cohabit instead
  • relationships should be exclusive (one partner at a time)
  • marrying gives stability and legal protection
• changing attitudes to marriage

  • sex before marriage
  • cohabiting is normalised
  • divorce is accepted
  • not seen as religious as weddings are not held in church
  • homosexual relationships/marriage
  • dont want children
  • not as important
• why attitudes to marriage have changed

  • les religious people
  • laws have changed
  • marriage is expensive
  • contraception is available
• christian responses to changing attitudes

  • catholics, conservatives - condemn pre-marital sex, cohabitation and same-sex marriage
  • liberals - accept new attitudes to marriage (cohabitation, sexual relationships), but they expect and encourage to marry when starting a family