marriage and the family

• what is annulment?


  declaration that a marriage is null and void: in effect, as if it had never happened, for reasons such as being under age or being forced to marry
• what is divorce?


  the legal ending of a marriage
• what is faithfulness?


  not having a sexual relationship with anyone other than a partner
• what is marriage?


  the legal union of a man and a woman or a same-sex couple
• what is sanctity of marriage?


  the idea that marriage has special significance as a holy gift from god
• what is atheist?


  someone who does not believe in the existence of god
• what is cohabitation?


  living together in a sexual relationship without legalising the union through marriage
• what is humanist?


  a non-religious person who looks to reason and empathy in order to live a meaningful life
• what is abstinence?


  choosing to restrain oneself from doing something, for example, having sex or eating food (also called fasting)
• what is adultery?


  when a married person has a sexual relationship with someone other than their spouse
• what is heterosexuality?

  sexual attraction to members of the opposite sex
• what is homosexuality?


  sexual attraction to members of the same sex
• what is promiscuity?


  sexual relations with multiple partners on a casual basis
• what is pride/gay pride?


  a social movement encouraging homosexual people to express their sexuality openly and with self-esteem
• what is procreation?


  to have sex and produce children
• what is christingle?


  a lighted candle symbolising jesus the light of the world, often carried by children in church celebrations around christmas time
• what is rites of passage?

  events marking key stages in life
• what is conception?


  the moment when a sperm fertilises an egg, creating an embryo that can develop into a baby
• what is contraception?


  artificial and natural methods of preventing pregnancy; also known as birth control
• what is situation ethics?

  ethical decisions made according to the specific context of the decision
• what is equality?


  treating people in the same way irrespective of differences such as sex, race, education, disability or sexuality
• what is ordination?


  the appointment of men and women to professional ministry in the church