Issues of Relationships

• christianity - cohabitation

  christians should not cohabit

  some allow it if they are in a committed relationship, but prefer marriage

  catholics do not allow cohabitation at all
• christianity - marriage

  think marriage is a gift from God - seen in the New Testament

  a sacrament

  two becoming one flesh

  consider it a life long commitment

  exchange of rings - represent eternal love
• judaism - marriage

  a blessing from G-d

  an important spiritual ceremony

  seven blessings are said praising G-d for creation and happiness

  Ketubah is the marriage contract

  the groom stamps of glass to symbolise the fragility of marriage or the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem
• christianity - adultery

  Marriage is a gift from God (a sacrament)

  Sex can only occur in a marriage

  Goes against the 10 commandments - "you shall not commit adultery"

  Adultery breaks the vows made at the wedding

  Adultery spoils the relationship between the couple
• judaism - adultery

  Goes against 10 commandments

  Husband should be sexually considerate towards wife

  Men and woman should be fulfilled through marriage
• Christianity - divorce

  Catholics do not allow divorces but allow annulment

  Catholics think marriage is a life long commitment and should end at death - "till death do us part"

  Protestants do allow divorces

  "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate"

  Protestants allows remarriage but Vicar decides
• judaism - divorce 


  Divorce should be last resort

  Orthodox men should give the wife a 'get' - a divorce document

  Reform jews accept a civil divorce nut are encouraged to obtain a 'get'

  Without a 'get' they can not get remarried in a Synagogue

  Remarriage is possible after 90 days after obtaining a 'get' for Orthodox Jews
• Christianity - sexual relationships + contraception

  Sex should only take place in marriage

  Sex is considered a gift from God - therefore is it holy and sacred

  Sex is a commitment between husband and wife

  Contraceptives are allowed if both agree

  Catholics do not allow artificial methods - it goes against the Natural Law of Thomas Aquinas
• Judaism - sexual relationships + contraceptions

  Sex should only take place in a marriage

  Sex consummates the marriage

  Use of contraception is allowed if both agree

  Orthodox Jews only allow natural methods

  Reform Jews allow most forms to limit family size
• christianity - same sex relationships

  Traditionally have been taught they are wrong

  There have been disagreements as it go against modern society

  Old Testaments teaches it is immoral

  Quakers have allowed same-sex relationships for some time now

  Catholics prohibit them as they believe marriage is a union between man and woman
• judaism - same sex relationships

  Traditionally Jews have been taught they are wrong

  Orthodox want to maintain traditional views that it is wrong

  But some may accept same-sex relationships

  "thou shalt not lie with mankind, as womankind" - Leviticus

  Reform often support same-sex marriages
• christianity - gender equality

  The original disciples were all men

  Timothy 2:11-12 can be interpreted to say woman should not have authority over men

  Anglicans now allow women to be ordained and become Bishops

  Catholics allow women to become nuns

  Catholics do not allow women to become ordained
• judaism - gender equality

  The bringing of Shabbat at home is conducted by women

  Orthodox synagogues separate men and women

  Orthodox men can only be in the minyan

  Reform allow men and women to become rabbis

  Reform allow men and women to sit next to each other in synagogues