Marriage and Family Life
Sub topics
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Changes in family life.
Key words.
Christianity and sex/relationships.
Islam and family sex/relationships.
Christianity and Islam - divorce.
Christianity and Islam- Family Life.
Christianity and Islam on Homosexuality.
Christianity and Islam Christianity and Islam on
contraception.
 Most young
people would not
have sex until
they were
married.
 Most people
would be married
in a church.
 Most
households would
be a nuclear
family.
 Homosexuality
was against the law.
 Most people
would be married
by the age of 25.
 People would
have just one or
two sexual partners in a
lifetime.
 Most people
have sex
before they
get married.
 Average age for
marrying has
increased (31.8 for
men and 29.7 for
women).
 Only 34% of
marriages took
place in a
church.
 More children
 More single-parent
 Homosexuality
+ reconstituted
families as more
couples divorce.
made legal in 1967
and Civil
Partnerships 2004.
raised by cohabiting
families (11% of all
families)
Why have attitudes changed?
Contraception made it safer
to have sex without
becoming pregnant.
Less people following
church teaching on sex
and living together
Media shows cohabiting
couples & sex outside
marriage as normal
More extended families as
working mums use
grandparents to look after
children
Celebrity couples
make divorce,
cohabitation +
homosexuality
appear more
acceptable now
Divorce is more acceptable,
cheaper and women have equal
rights and pay to men so don’t
have to stay married.
Divorce & single
parent families more
acceptable now
Homosexuality made
legal and homophobia
illegal
Key words
• Remember these are worth 20% of your exam.
What type of family is this?
• Nuclear family?
• Extended family?
• Single parent family?
• Same sex family?
• Re-constituted
family?
What type of family is this?
• Nuclear family?
• Extended family?
• Single parent family?
• Same sex family?
• Re-constituted
family?
What type of family is this?
• Nuclear family?
• Extended family?
• Single parent family?
• Same sex family?
• Re-constituted
family?
What type of family is this?
• Nuclear family?
• Extended family?
• Single parent family?
• Same sex family?
• Re-constituted
family?
Christianity and attitudes to sex and
relationships.
Here you go…I
got you some
SEX!!!
Sex is a GIFT from God
God made two of each species with the intention that
they would reproduce, populate the land, and humans
would act as stewards to care for all creations.
Sex is for procreation.
The purpose of sex is to reproduce and
start a family, it was not designed for
enjoyment..
Sex belongs in
marriage –
Christians believe
you should NOT
have sex until you
are married
because sex is for
procreation.
Islam and attitudes to sex and
relationships.
• Adultery is strongly condemned in
Islam and is forbidden in The Qur’an
• Shari’ah law says that adultery is
punishable by death.
• It breaks the marriage contract.
• It is likely to harm family relations
which Muslims believe are very
important.
• Muslims are advised to avoid circumstances
that could potentially result in pre-marital
sex.
• Unmarried couples are warned about
spending time alone in isolated places where
they would be more likely to act on their
feelings.
• Pre-marital sex is considered a major sin.
“...adultery is a shameful deed and an opening road to
other evils.” Surah 17:32
“ Say to the believing men that they should lower their
gaze and guard their modesty...” Surah 24:30
Maybe one could added to the modesty column?!?
Divorce- Christianity and Islam
The facts about divorce –
True or False?
• 1. Anyone can have a divorce if they ask
for it
• FALSE. You have to prove that your
marriage has “broken down” and only a
judge can grant the divorce.
Reasons for Failure?
Why might
someone
want a
divorce?
Why???
In your opinion, which of the following
should be grounds for divorce? Place them
in the diamond 9 and explain why you chose
the most and least important reasons.
ABUSE
MENTAL
ILLNESS
INNABILITY
TO HAVE
CHILDREN
PHYSICAL
DISABILITY
FALL OUT
OF LOVE
PARTNER
COMMITTED A
CRIME
UNREASONABLE
BEHAVIOUR
DESERTION
ADULTERY
“ A man who divorces his wife and
marries another woman commits
adultery against his wife. In the same
way, a woman who divorces her husband
and marries another man, commits
adultery.” (Mark 10:11-12)
“…Any man who divorces his wife for
any cause other than her
unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he
marries some other woman.” (Matt
19:9)
“…A man will leave his father and
mother and unite with his wife, and the
two will become one”…”No human being
then must separate what God has
joined together. (Mark 10:7-9)
Why has the stigma against
divorce has gone?
Divorce is relatively quick and
inexpensive
Divorce doesn’t have
the negative stigma it
used to
People are less willing to
put up with bad treatment
from their partners
People are less
religious and do
not feel so
bound to their
marriage vows
Islam – How a divorce is done
• A man has to tell his wife that he wants a
divorce three times over three months
• The couple can divorce and re-marry after
the three month period is up
• The husband has to carry on looking after
his wife until she marries again, even after
they are divorced
Islam – What a divorce is
allowed for
• You can get a divorce if the
husband won’t give any money to
the wife
• You can get a divorce if the
husband is away for a long time
or is put in prison
Islam – What does the Qur’an
say?
• The Qur’an says that divorce is
not a good thing
• The Qur’an says that you can’t
throw your wife out of your
house, even if you want a
divorce!
Christianity, Islam and Family life
Example One
At baptism we
promise to
bring our
children up in
a loving
Christian
family
Example Two
At Sunday School we learn
about how to get on with
each other and follow
Christian teachings on the
family
Example Three
At a church school
children are educated
in a Christian
environment
Example Four
We can all worship as a
family at this family
service and at
Christmas or Easter
Mother
As a mother, my
job is to teach
my children
about what is
haram and what
is halal
Halal
means
allowed
And Haram
means not
allowed
Father
As a father, it is
my responsibility
to take my sons
to the Mosque
Imam
It is my job as
an Imam to
offer advice on
matters of
marriage and
family life
The Madrasah
• One of the responsibilities a parent has is
to send their children to the Madrasah.
• This is a Islamic ‘School’
• Children go to the Madrasah on an evening
after completely their state school day.
They will learn how to read the Qu’ran as
well as the meanings in the Qu’ran. They
will also be able to have extra classes such
as English and maths.
Christianity and Homosexuality
• Homosexuality is a grave sin and according to
Shariah Law punishable by death in Islam.
• It is never excepted.
New
New Testament - Men
committed indecent
Testament
acts with other men
and received the due
penalty for their
perversion.
Jude 1:7- Depicts Cities that are
burnt to the ground because it’s
Christian inhabitants are thought to
be involved in greed and homosexual
acts. Therefore God uses them as a
deterrent by destroying all that live
there,
Roman Catholic/ Pope
view
They advise that if
you have these
feelings to remain
celibate (avoid sexual
relationships)
Roman Catholics
think homosexual
sex is a sin
because the Bible
says it is wrong.
The Church of England is
divided over the issue of
homosexuality.
Some say it is it
is unnatural,
abnormal and a
sin.
Church of
England
Others accept
homosexuality
because these
relationships can
be stable, loving,
long-term
relationships and
Jesus taught the
LOVE mattered
the most.
Islam and Christianity on
Contraception.
Protestants
Think contraception is Acceptable
because...
1. Sex allows a married couple to
show love
2.
3.
It controls family size
It keeps the couple safe
Both partners must
Agree to using contraception
Roman Catholics
Purpose of sex is
Artificial contraception is
To REPRODUCE
Wrong!
sex is a gift from God, given in order that
because...
they reproduce and populate the earth
They allow
The Rhythm Method
because...
It is NATURAL
Most Muslims...
Think contraception is
1.
Acceptable
if:
The woman’s health is at risk.
2. If a possible child may have a
disability
3.
If they cannot afford a child
Muhammad...
Did not forbid the use of contraception
Some Muslims...
Think contraception is
Wrong!
because... Allah has a plan for everyone so it is wrong
to interfere to prevent the birth of a child
They think that contraceptive techniques lead
And….
to a rise in promiscuity (sleeping around freely)
• Christians should never use
contraception? D Part 6 Marks
• Choose one religion other than
Christianity and explain why
some of its followers accept
divorce and others do not. C
Part 8 marks
• Explain why most
Christians are against sex
outside of marriage. C Part
8 Marks.
• All religious people should
allow divorce. D Part 6
Marks
• Explain why some Christians
accept homosexuality and
others don’t. C Part 8 Marks.
• A religious family is a happy
family. D Part Question. 6
marks.
• Choose one religion other than
Christianity and explain why most
of its followers do not accept sex
outside of marriage. C Part 78
Marks.
• Contraception should be accepted
by all religious people. D Part 6
Marks.