Theme A

• Family

  A group of people that are descended from the same common ancestors, or just simply refer to parents and their children
• Family

  • An important unit in religious terms as it is a place where everyone is nurtured and supported
  • One purpose is to provide a stable environment for the raising of children
• Main family types

  • Nuclear
  • Extended
  • Same-sex parent
  • Single parent
• Stereotypical nuclear family changing

  • Divorce and remarriage rates are higher
  • Increase in house prices mean families may choose to live with other relatives to reduce costs
• Polygamy

  Having more than one marriage at the same time
• Polygamy in Islam

  Men can have multiple wives but women cannot have multiple husbands
• Qur'an: '"Marry women of your choice, two, three, or four"'
• Christianity is against any type of polygamy
• Bible: '"Each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband"'
• Sexism is when people are treated differently because of their gender
• Evidence for religious sexism

  • Language of the Bible is male centred
  • Roman Catholic church and Islam don't allow women to lead main acts of worship
  • Bible quotes tell women to submit to their husbands and to be quiet in church
  • Islam gives more explicit advice on how women should dress in comparison to men
• Evidence against religious sexism

  • Deborah was a prophetess in the Old Testament who was both Judge and a warrior who led men into war
  • Mary Magdalene displayed greater faith than the male disciples
  • Methodist church have always allowed women to lead worship
  • Muhammed supported the fact that his first wife Khadija was a businesswoman and another wife, Aisha, was a scholar who taught men
  • Muhammed made it possible for women to inherit
  • Muhammed also told people that infanticide of girls was wrong
• Sex

  A natural act that is required for procreation to take place
• Religious views on sex

  • Roman Catholicism states sex can only take place within marriage, outside of a marriage is classed as a sin, as sex is mainly for procreation
  • Church of England state sex within marriage is the ideal, but it may take place before marriage if a couple intend to marry and are in a committed relationship
  • Some say it is wise to cohabit before marriage to check you are compatible, than to risk the sin of divorce
• Religious views on premarital sex

  • Muslims and Roman Catholics don't allow sex before marriage and see this as sinful
  • Methodists accept that times have changed, premarital sex is not ideal but if the couple are committed and intend to marry, it isn't seen as a major sin
  • Prince William cohabited before marriage, some say this sets an example which others may follow
• Adultery

  Deceit and causes pain, which all religions aim to avoid
• Religious views on adultery

  • Islam, under Shariah Law, has strict punishments for those caught committing adultery
  • Christians may believe people should be forgiven if they have committed adultery
  • For Christians, God is the judge and they will have faith that He will ensure justice takes place
• Contraception

  Anything that is done to prevent pregnancy during the act of sexual intercourse
• Types of contraception

  • Artificial (manmade e.g. condom, hormone pill, femidom)
  • Natural (no manmade item used, i.e. rhythm method and withdrawal)
• Religious views on contraception

  • Roman Catholics believe sex is for procreation so contraception should never be needed, but allow natural methods
  • Church of England/Islam= Sex isn't just about procreation, it's about intimacy and union, so contraception is sensible to use within a marriage
  • Artificial contraception did not exist in the time of the Bible so there are no direct quotes against it
• Marriage

  • For Roman Catholics, a sacrament where God is acting in their life by creating a spiritual change
  • In Islam, a contract between two people
• Traditionally, parents may help their children have an arranged marriage in Islam, but this is not required as Muhammed had both love and arranged marriages
• In Islam, men can marry up to four women at the same time following a quote from the Qur'an
• Religious views on same-sex marriage

  • For some religious believers, homosexuality is seen as a sin as it goes against the Natural Law, because it can't lead to pregnancy
  • Islam specifically sets out severe punishments for those who have homosexual relationships, for example, flogging or execution
  • For some Christians, being homosexual is not a sin, but the act of homosexual sex is a sin. Homophobia is not accepted in Christianity
  • Some Christians, such as the Quakers, accept homosexuality as they don't believe in judging others
• Religious views on divorce and remarriage

  • Roman Catholics believe marriage is for life, therefore, divorce is never allowed and remarriage is also forbidden
  • The Church of England allow divorce as relationships don't always work, it is up to individual vicars to whether they allow remarriage
  • In Islam, marriage is a contract (nikah), if the contract is broken a divorce can take place and Muslims are free to remarry
• Nikkah


  Term for the Islamic marriage contract
• Nuclear family

  A family made up of parents and their children
• Prejudice

  To pre-judge someone because of their age, race, religion etc.
• Premarital sex

  Having sex before marriage has taken place
• Procreation

  To create new life
• Remarriage

  Marrying again after a divorce
• Sacrament

  One of 7 special ceremonies when God creates a spiritual change within a person including Marriage, Baptism, Holy Communion
• Same-sex family

  A family where both parents are of the same gender
• Sexism

  When someone is treated differently based on his or her gender
• Single parent family

  A single parent raising children on their own
• Vows

  Promise, i.e. marriage vows: 'For better for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death us do part'
• New Testament: '"Love one another. As I have loved you…"'
• Old Testament: '"Honour your father and mother."'
• New Testament: '"Anyone who does not provide for their relatives and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."'
• New Testament: '"The two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh"'