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C - Relationships and Families (Divorce & Remarriage (Xn's try to…
C - Relationships and Families
Human Sexuality
human sexuality
- how people express themselves as sexual beings
Xn's believe - marriage is only place for sexual relationship
Xn's see heterosexual relationships to be God's plan (Adam & Eve)
Genesis: a man and woman should be united and
'increase in number'
Some Xn's believe that the most loving thing to do would adapt their teachings to fit a changing world (abortion, contraception, sex outside marriage etc)
homosexuality:
"Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable"
Church welcomes homosexual Xn's who live in a faithful, committed relationship but doesn't allow them to marry in church
Some Xn's think the Bible should be interpreted in the context of modern British society
Sexual relationships before and outside marriage
Many Xn's believe sex expresses a deep, loving, lifelong union that first requires the committment of marriage
believe it's wrong to use people for sex
"All other sins a person commit are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body, Do you no now that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own"
some Xn's accept that for some people, sex before marriage is a valid expression of their love for each other
sex outside marriage = wrong - involves secrecy, lies, betrayal of trust, affects children, causes pain to family, breaks family apart
a stable relationship needed between parents for their children's security -
"you shall not commit adultery"
Jesus taught that lust is wrong:
"anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart"
marriage is an unbreakable bond that requires total faithfulness
Contraception & Family Planning
God's greatest gift to a married couple to have children
God's will children born within marriage
some situations where not having child is accepted:
economic
environmental
physical
psychological
Xn's don't agree with some types of contraception
Catholics and Orthodox - artificial contraception goes against natural law (the moral principles that are part of human nature)
Catholic Church - sex is for making new life as well as expressing love -> these two purposes shouldn't be separated
By using artificial contraception is sinful bcus the couples are not open to new life and so are preventing God's plan (encouraging selfisness)
Catholics not against family planning
Other Xn's want family but don't want every sexual act to potentially lead to having child
Anglicans and Nonconformists accept that people should only have as many children as they are able to care for (unfair to baby to bring into world of deprivation)
believe some contraception shouldn't be used as egg could already be fertilised
Religious teachings about marriage
some Xn's against same sex marriage as its changing the nature of marraige
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, ad they become one flesh"
"God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it"
marriage is a sacrament that reflects the sacrificial love of Jesus
an agreement before God in which couples promise to live faithfully together until death
"The Church sees marriage between a man and a woman, as central to the stability and health of human society"
purpose of marriage for Xn's
- to provide stable, secure environment for family life. Proper place to enjoy sexual relationship, bring up children, provide lifelong support and companion
Anglicans and Protestants accept cohabitation (can live in a long, faithful relationship without marriage)
Orthodox and Catholics - disagree with cohabitation
Divorce & Remarriage
Xn's try to prevent divorces by running courses for couples to prepare them for marriage
Many say vows before God are sacred and should never be broken
can be circumstances where it might be more compassion and loving to divorce
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery"
Catholics believe a civil divorce cannot dissolve a marriage between two baptised people
Catholics separate but cannot marry someone else whilst their partner is still alive
annulment
- a Catholic Church ruling that a marriage was never valid
Other Xn's think although marriage is for life, sometimes divorce is the lesser of two evils
Other Protestant churches accept civil divorce and allow remarriage in church as long as couple takes vows seriously
Eastern Orthodox Church grants divorces and remarries couples, but usually not more than twice
counselling (prayer and meditation too) and support given to couples who are having problems within their marriage
The nature of families
Catholic Church describes parenting:
"Here one learns endurance and the joy of work [...] love, generous - and even repeated - forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life"
Xn's want their children to grow up with values (respect for all life, generosity, compassion, loyalty, ability to have loving relationships)
Xn's = commanded to love one another - the way they relate to each other is important to God
in a family a child learns to love - families valued highly
"Honour your father and your mother"
ideal marriage of one man and one woman for life was created at the beginning
bigamy
- offence of marrying someone while already married to another person
some Xn's disapprove of same sex parents as they believe children should grow up with male and female role models
Purpose of families
Xn's believe God reveals himself as a Father, with Jesus his Son and humankind his children - God created life and so loves and cares for it - important role of Xn parents = educating children about their faith
Xn parents expected to be good role models
some parents make prayer a daily thing, fit into a routine
some send their children to faith schools and groups run by their church
a family reflects the relationship of Christ and the Church
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her"
"Listen to your father, you gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old"
Xn's believe children = gifts from God (should respect their human dignity)
Gender Equality
Xn's believe all people have been created as equals in the image of God
"Love thy neighbour"
- meaning discrimination is wrong
Jesus treated women with respect and welcomed them as disciples
some traditional Xn's believe that men are the head of the family and women should stay home and care for the home and children
"[...] with painful labour you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you"
many Xn's today see marriage as an equal partnerships where the different gifts of each person strengthen family life