Marriage and Family Life

Sub topics
• 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.
 1950’s
 Most young
people would not
have sex until  Homosexuality was
they were against the law.
married.

 Most people  Most people

would be married would be married
in a church. by the age of 25.

 People would have

 Most households
just one or
would be a nuclear
two sexual partners in a
family.
lifetime.
  Average age for
 Most people marrying has
have sex increased (31.8 for
before they men and 29.7 for
get married. women).

 Only 34% of  More children

raised by cohabiting
marriages took
families (11% of all
place in a families)
church.

 More single-parent +  Homosexuality

reconstituted families made legal in 1967
as more couples and Civil
divorce. Partnerships 2004.
 Why have attitudes changed?

Contraception made it safer More extended families as

to have sex without working mums use
becoming pregnant.
grandparents to look after
children
Less people following
church teaching on sex Celebrity couples
and living together make divorce,
cohabitation +
Media shows cohabiting homosexuality Divorce & single
couples & sex outside appear more parent families more
acceptable now
marriage as normal acceptable now

Divorce is more acceptable,

Homosexuality made
cheaper and women have equal
legal and homophobia
rights and pay to men so don’t illegal
have to stay married.
 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.
3. Here you go…I
got you some
SEX!!!

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.
4.

Sex is for procreation.

=
The purpose of sex is to reproduce and
start a family, it was not designed for
enjoyment..
1. Marr SEX iage

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.
 Islam and adultery
• 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.

Write each quote into the ‘Quote’ section of
two teachings on the worksheet.

“...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.
UNREASONABLE
ABUSE MENTAL
BEHAVIOUR
ILLNESS

INNABILITY
TO HAVE PHYSICAL DESERTION
CHILDREN DISABILITY

PARTNER ADULTERY
FALL OUT COMMITTED A
OF LOVE CRIME
“ 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
People are less willing to
put up with bad treatment
from their partners
inexpensive
Divorce doesn’t have
the negative stigma it
used to
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

Halal
means
allowed
As a mother, my
job is to teach
my children
about what is
haram and what And Haram
is halal 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 Testament - Men
New Testament
committed indecent
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 Roman Catholics
you have these think homosexual
feelings to remain
sex is a sin
celibate (avoid sexual
relationships) because the Bible
says it is wrong.
 Church of England
The Church of England is
divided over the issue of
homosexuality.
Others accept
homosexuality
because these
relationships can
be stable, loving,
long-term
Some say it is it relationships and
Jesus taught the
is unnatural,
LOVE mattered
abnormal and a the most.
sin.
Islam and Christianity on Contraception.
Protestants
Think contraception is Acceptable

because...

1. Sex allows a married couple to

show love
2.
It controls family size
3.
It keeps the couple safe
Both partners must Agree to using contraception
Roman Catholics
Purpose of sex is To REPRODUCE

Artificial contraception is 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 Acceptable if:

1.
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.