Families

• Types of families


  • Nuclear Family
  • Extended Family
  • Blended Family
• Nuclear Family


  Family unit made up of two parents and their child(ren)
• Extended Family


  Family unit comprising two parents and their children, but also grandparents, cousins etc.
• Blended Family


  Stepfamilies together via marriage
• Purpose of families


  • To procreate and have children
  • To provide for your family
  • To educate and raise children within the faith
• Genesis 1: 'Be fruitful and multiply'
• St Paul: 'Anyone who does not provide for his relatives has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever'
• St Paul: 'Bring up your children in the training and instruction of the Lord'
• Celebrate Christian festivals together, Read the Bible, pray etc.
• PURPOSE OF FAMILIES

  To procreate and have children (Hadith:

  'Heaven is under the feet of mothers'.

  Reproduction is seen as a duty and a blessing from God).

  To raise children within the faith (Shahadah the first words should hear. Pray, worship etc).

  To respect and care for elders (Surah 17: 'Do good to your parents...treat them respectfully in old age')
• Polygamy


  Marriage with more than one spouse
• UK Law on Polygamy

  • Marriage must be monogamous
• Christian marriages


  Must be monogamous (Genesis 2)
• Polygamy in Islam


  Each man may marry up to four wives (Surah 4)
• Same-sex parenting


  • Same-sex acts are condemned as 'detestable'
  • Would not be appropriate for same-sex couple to adopt a child
• Those who engage in same-sex acts should be "dishonoured" (Surah 4)
• Same-sex parenting is 'unnatural' and not part of God's plan
• Situation Ethics - 'Do the most loving thing'


  It could be the most loving thing for the child, e.g. if they are adopted and the couple provide them with a stable, loving home
• Could support same-sex parenting if legal in the country - 'submit to the governing authorities' (St Paul)
• Surrogacy and adoption could be used for same-sex parenting