RS Edexcel: Marriage and the Family

Traditional attitude of 1960's: No sex before marriage, one or two sexual partners during lifetime, marriage by age of 25, marry in church

However nowadays....

• Most people have sex before marriage (Average age of first sex- 16, men have average 13 sexual partners and women have 7 sexual partners)
• Acceptable for couples to cohabitate rather than marry
• Average age fro marrriage has risen to 29/31
• Only minority of marriages take place in church

Most Christians believe that sex outisde marriage is WRONG.

PRE-MARITAL SEX (Sex before marriage)

• Sex given to humans for procreation of children, so it must take place within marriage
• Bible says fornication is sinful
• All Churches teach pre-marital sex is wrong

However, some Christians accept cohabitation and sexual relaionships if the couple are commited:

• Believe Church has to come to tems with modern life
• Jesus taught that love is the most important thing

EXTRA-MARITAL SEX (Having sex with other peopel when married)

• Breaks wedding vows
• Condemned in 10 commandments
• Condemned by Jesus in Gspels

Hinduism is against any form of sex outside marraige

PRE-MARITAL SEX- sex before marriage isn't allowed:

• Before marraige, a Hindu is in the student ashrama where sex is nt allowed
• Hindu Scriptures say that sex should only take place in marriage
• purpose of sex is for procreation of children; children should be born in marriage

EXTRA-MARTIAL SEX- Adultery isn't allowed in Hinduism

• betraying one's dharma and prevents a soul from achieving moksha
• betrayal of the marriage partner
• likely to harm family which Hinduism regards as very important

In Christianity, marriage has four purposes:

• So that a couple can have a life-long relationship of love and faithfulness
• So that a couple can have the support and comfort of each other
• For the procreation of children
• For the bringing up of a Christian famiy
• So that a couple can have the support and comfort of each other

Main features of a Christian marriage service

• priest welcoming couple and acting as Church's witnessto wedding
• Emphasis on purpose of marraige and the fact it is a special sacrament
• Readings from bible and short talk on nature of Christian marriage
• Exchange of vows commitin partners to lifetiem marriage
• Exchange of rings
• Prayers asking God's blessing on couple and help of holy spirit

In Hinduism, marriage has five purposes:

• So that a love can share love and companonship
• For the joy of children
• To bring the union of two families
• So that the couple can fulfil their role as a householder and so hae the chance to gain moksha
• So that the couple can enjoy sex in the way of dharma

Main features of a Hindu marriage service

• priest welcomes the couple and there are prayers+hymns about joys of marriage
• offerings are made to the gods
• the bride stands on stone to represent stability marraige brings
• rice thrown into sacred fire (havan) to encourage fertility
• couple takes seven steps arougn sacred fire
• groom places a black and gold necklace roung bride's neck to represent union of two families

TRADITIONALLY: Divorce difficult to obtain, people looked down upon and couldn't remarry in Church

NOWADAYS: Divorce accepted as part of normal life, no one looked down upon, more common

• removal of legal and financial barriers- divorce is cheaper
• women no longer dependant on their husbands for money
• changing expectatons of marriage- woman gained a more equal life
• Demographic changes

1 Catholic church doesn't allow divorce as marriage is a sacrament, unless one of the partner dies. However it allows annumlent if it is proven to be not a christian marriage.

• Jesus taught divorcce is wrong in Mark's gospel
• Couple have made covanant wth God in sacrament of marriage

2 Other churches think divorce is wrong, but the lesser of two evils, and the divorced person can remarry if they repent their sins.

• Jesus allowed divorce for a partner's adultery
• Christians are allowed forgiveness and a new chance
• better t odivorce than live in hatred and quarrel all the time