Theme A

• Homosexuality


  Being physically and sexually attracted to persons of the same gender
• The Sexual Offences Act 1967 legalized homosexual acts in England and Wales between consenting men over 21</b>
• Same-sex marriage became legal in the UK in 2013
• Human diversity: 'Every sex act must remain open to the transmission of life'
• Quran, Surah 26: 'Must you lust after males and abandon the wives God has created for you? You are exceeding all bounds.'
• St Paul, 1 Corinthians: 'Men who have sex with men will not inherit the kingdom of God'
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: 'Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and contrary to the natural law'
• Inclusive Mosque Initiative


  There are many ways of doing Islam
• Quakers: 'It is the nature and quality of the relationship that matters'
• Positive attitudes towards homosexuality


  Quakers and some Christians allow same-sex marriage, view it as loving and natural, not causing harm
• Negative attitudes towards homosexuality


  Christians and Muslims view it as going against God's plan for procreation and natural law, sinful and detestable
• Sex before marriage


  Having sex before getting married
• Cohabitation


  Living together as a couple without being married
• Christians and Muslims condemn sex outside of marriage (adultery)
• Ten Commandments: 'Do not commit adultery'
• Quran, Surah 17: 'Adultery is an outrage and an evil path'
• Adultery goes against marriage vows and is seen as breaking a promise and a sacrament
• Hebrews 13:4: 'The marriage bed should be kept pure, and God will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral'
• Christians and Muslims believe sex should only take place within marriage and be open to procreation
• Sex before marriage


  Diverse views, but seen as wrong by most Christians and Muslims
• Sex outside of marriage (adultery)


  Condemned by Christians and Muslims as sinful and breaking a promise
• Adultery goes against the marriage vows that are made in the presence of each other, witnesses, and God
• Adultery causes upset and harm, it is not a loving thing to do
• Hebrews 13 4: 'The marriage bed should be kept pure and God will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral'
• Quran: 'Those who engage in illicit sex acts will be punished'
• Sharia law states the death penalty can be a possible punishment for adultery, but requires four witnesses
• Contrasting beliefs about sex before marriage

  • Liberal Christians say it is not necessarily wrong between two consenting adults, as long as it is in a loving, committed relationship
  • Islam is very clear that sex must take place within marriage, and 100 lashes is given as punishment for sex before marriage
  • The Catholic Church says it is a grave sin to have sex outside of marriage
• The Catholic Church says artificial contraception is intrinsically evil
• Church of England: 'Contraception is acceptable if done in the light of Christian principles'
• Methods of contraception


  • Natural methods (rhythm method)
  • Artificial methods (condom, birth control pill)
• Family planning


  Planning when to have a family and how big a family to have by the use of birth control practices and/or contraception
• Reasons religious people may support the use of contraception

  • Church of England says it is acceptable within a committed, Christian relationship
  • Liberal Christians say it is a sensible method of family planning and responsible stewardship
  • Some Muslims believe it can be used within marriage for family planning or health reasons
  • Situation ethics says contraception may be the most loving and responsible thing to do
• Reasons religious people may oppose the use of contraception

  • Catholic Church says it denies God's role in the transmission of life and makes sex about pleasure rather than procreation
  • Conservative Christians say it may encourage sexual immorality and promiscuity
  • Some Muslims believe it interferes with God's will and could be considered early abortion
• Purpose of marriage (Christian beliefs)

  • To become one flesh and have a committed, lifelong relationship
  • To have a committed, loving sexual relationship
  • To procreate and start a family
  • To fulfill the sacraments
• Purpose of marriage (Islamic beliefs)

  • To procreate and have children
  • To support and protect one another
  • To fulfill religious responsibilities
• The Catholic Church says the vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman
• An Islamic scholar says the only way to protect all within society is to maintain a society where only a man and his wife share the act of sex
• Cohabitation


  Living together without being married
• The Church of England accepts cohabitation if it will lead to marriage
• Marriage is seen as a sacrament for Christians and a contract for Muslims