Christian Attitudes towards Relationships and Families, Schemes and Mind Maps of Christianity

Download Christian Attitudes towards Relationships and Families and more Schemes and Mind Maps Christianity in PDF only on Docsity! Relationships and families: relationships. Sex, family life and gender (Christianity) Key terms Relationships and the law - timeline Key teachings Heterosexual physically attracted to the opposite sex Homosexual physically attracted to the same sex Adultery having an affair, sex with someone you aren’t married to Sex outside marriage EG: adultery, cohabitation etc Contraception cautions taken to prevent pregnancy & STIs Family planning plan when to have a family using contrac’n Civil partnership the legal union of 2 people 2004/2020 Cohabitation living together as a couple (not married) Divorce legal dissolution (ending) of a marriage Annulment the cancellation of a marriage (RCC) Polygamy man having more than one wife Procreation the biological process of a couple producing children Stability secure and predictable circumstances Gender equality equal treatment for men & women Gender discrimination acting on gender prejudice and treating so differently. ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ Genesis, OT ‘Do not commit adultery’7th C ‘Flee from sexual immorality … your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who lives in you’ St Paul, NT ‘every sexual act must be within the framework of marriage’ RCC Pope Pius XI 1930 ‘Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’ Jesus, NT ‘One learns endurance and the joy of work … love and … forgiveness and above all worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life’ the RCC on families/parenting ‘Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church’ St Paul, NT ‘Listen to your father who gave you life and do not despise your mother when she is old’ Proverbs, OT ‘Children, obey your parents in everything’ NT ‘Honour your father and mother’ 5th C OT ‘There is neither male or female, you are all one in Christ’ / ‘The husband is the head of the wife’ St Paul NT Christian attitudes towards sexuality Seen as part of God’s plan due to teaching in Genesis to ‘be united’ and ‘be fruitful and multiply’. For most Christians sex should happen within marriage and aim to create a family. For many this means they oppose gay marriage, sex before marriage and contraception. Some are fully celibate such as monks, nuns, & Catholic priests. Christian att’s to sex before marriage In the past this was considered shocking. However today about half of have unmarried parents. Christians believe sex should expresses a deep loving LIFELONG commitment so should be chaste before marriage. Catholics oppose SBM but more liberal denominations accept it may occur in long term relationships BM. Christian att’s to S outside M (adultery) Adultery break the promise of faithfulness made in wedding vows. It is forbidden by God 7th Commandment and involves lies (9th C). Children and partners are harmed as a consequence. Jesus goes further and in Matthew states that even lust is wrong. However, Jesus did forgive the woman caught in adultery – but tells her not to sin again. Christian attitudes towards contraception Catholics oppose it. C of E accept it to plan a family within marriage, though oppose use for casual sex. In society its use is widespread to avoid unwanted pregnancies and STIs and it is seen as responsible. RCC do accept natural methods such as the rhythm method as there is still a chance for conception. In areas where there is a high risk of AIDS for example sometimes even RCC support use of condoms to stop spread. Purpose of marriage for Christians Marriage is always a legal contract; a religious ceremony also includes sacred vows where couples promise to be faithful and care for each other in all circumstances until death. It is seen to have 2 purposes: unitive and procreative (join together & make babies). Hence opposition of some to Gay marriage. M provides a stable, secure environment for family life. RCC oppose cohabitation, CofE and others accept. Purpose of families Love is at the heart of family life. Families are for procreation, stability, the protection of children and education of children. It serves to pass on religious teachings and traditions from one generation to the next. In the OT some people were polygamous, however Christians believe in monogamy. St Paul also opposed it and it’s illegal in the UK. CofE say “The family remains the most important grouping human beings have ever developed.” Gender equality vs discrimination Women are half of the workforce, but are paid less (often for the same job) and hold fewer senior roles. The law says discrimination is illegal but it still occurs due to gender prejudice or sexual stereotyping. Christians believe we are all created equal in the image of God. Jesus treated women with respect and welcomed them as disciples. CofE have female priests and Bishops. RCC have only male priests. Traditional Christians may see the man as the head of the home. Christian attitudes to divorce and remarriage In 2012 an estimated 42% of marriages ended in divorce. Marriages fail for a wide range of reasons. Jesus taught that anyone who divorced and remarried was committing adultery (Mark 10:11-12 NT). Christians believe the vows made in God’s presence are sacred and should be kept. They support married couples having difficulties with counselling or prayer for example. RCC teaches that divorce is impossible between 2 Baptised people, even if they separate and remarriage=adultery. M is permanent, exclusive and lifelong. Others eg CofE accept that divorce may be the lesser of 2 evils such as when there is domestic violence. They may not allow remarriage. Others such as Methodists accept remarriage and try to reflect the forgiveness of God in their actions. RCC do allow annulment in rare circumstances. RCC = Roman Catholics CofE= Church of England/Anglicans SBM=Sex Before Marriage SOM=Sex Outside Marriage C=Commandment (God’s rules via Moses) att=attitudes OT/NT=Old/New Testament 1885 1994 2000 1967 2001 2004 2013 Sexual acts between homosexuals made illegal Sexual acts between homosexuals declared legal for over 21s except in the Armed forces Civil partnerships introduced for gay couples Homosexuals allowed to serve in the armed forces Same sex marriage becomes legal Sex discrimina tion Act 1975 Homosexual age of consent reduced to 18 First female priests CofE Age of consent reduced to 16 First female Bishops in the CofE 2015