Other Christian denominations, such as the Church of England, have different ideas. They believe that if the couple sincerely believe that there is no possibility they will ever want to live together again, divorce can be allowed, and both partners are then free to marry other people. If either of them wants to marry a new partner in church after they have been divorced, then it is up to the vicar or minister to decide whether they are taking Christian marriage seriously enough for this to be allowed.
The Christian Churches agree that they should do all that they can to help couples that are having difficulties in their relationships. They often have special classes for people who are about to get married, and groups that married couple can join to talk about how they can work towards a happy and successful married life. Some churches also run counselling services to help people who are thinking about separating or divorcing.
- Yes I do agree, as I believe that marriage is suppose to be a faithful partnership between one man and one woman. Within Christianity, there are many different opinions about sexual relationships. Many Christians believe that sex is only appropriate between people who are married to each other. This means that sex before marriage, homosexual relationships and affairs outside marriage are all considered to be wrong. They argue that the bible teaches that the human body is a ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’ and that it should be treated with respect.
They might also say that God designed sex for a purpose, to create children and to strengthen the love between married people. If sex is used only for pleasure and not for the reasons God made it, then this behaviour spoils something that was meant to be very special.
Other Christians believe that these views are old-fashioned. They say that the main message of Christianity is love, and that sex is morally acceptable within any relationship that is committed and loving, whether or not the people involved are married to each other. Some Christians, then, might accept sexual relationships between a committed homosexual couple, or between two people who are living together on a permanent basis, but they would still think it is wrong for people to have sex if they have only just met and if they do not particularly care about each other or plan to stay together in a lasting relationship.
Religious Studies Coursework
Question
a) Explain the Christian beliefs about death and life after death.
Answer
a) Christians believe that one day God will raise all the people who have ever lived and judge them. Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that he died for the sins of all people. They believe that if Jesus had not died then all people would go to Hell.
Some say that Hell is a place of suffering in fire forever, other Christians says that your soul is destroyed in Hell. Christians believe that if you accept that Jesus died for your sins and that if you worship God then you will be able to go to Heaven when you die.
Heaven is a place where there is only happiness, no sorrow or sadness.
Roman Catholic Christians believe that there is a third place called Purgatory. In Purgatory you are made fit for heaven and for some people this may take a long time.
Christians believe that Christ rose from the dead. This is called the resurrection. They believe that this is a sign that Christ had overcome the power of death.
While the death of a loved one is always a sad time Christian’s belief that it is not only the end of an earthly life but the beginning of a new life with God. While this is still a time of separation for those left behind it is only a temporary separation, as they believe that they will meet again in the 'heavenly', with God life after death.
Rites for the dying
These vary according from church to church. When ministers of Protestant churches visit the dying they will pray with them and reassure them. There may be a standard set of prayers that they follow or their prayers may be spontaneous, being a response to the needs of the dying person and their family. Such prayers will generally contain a plea to God to forgive the sins of the dying person and welcome them into Heaven. It may include a prayer that God strengthens the dying person for the journey, which they must make. The dying person's family may take part in such prayers. Churches of the Catholic tradition, which includes Roman Catholics, Orthodox and Old Catholics, will have a ritual. Some Anglicans may use this kind of ritual also. This might consists of:
(a) Hearing the dying person confess their sins, after which the priest absolves their sins, this is the sacrament of penance.
(b) Anointing with Christ, that is holy oil. Oil is an ancient symbol of healing and strength.
(c) Receiving communion. When communion is given to the dying it is sometimes known in the Roman Catholic Church as viaticum, a Latin word indicating that it is food for a journey, the journey into death.
(d) Prayers for and with the sick will also be included in these rituals.
Whatever method the minister or priest uses, the intention is the same: to prepare the dying for their meeting with God. When Christians die they hope to be in a state pleasing to God so that they can go to Heaven. This means that they want to:
(a) Be free of all sins they have committed. This involves seeking God's forgiveness for what is yet unforgiving and be reconciled with their enemies.
(b) Die in love and unity with God.
The funeral service
The Christian church allows no burial or cremation. The family will follow the wishes of the person who died in this matter. Neither the priest nor the minister from the church will meet with the family of the deceased. The person who has died may have left instructions for the hymns and prayers that are to be sung at their own funeral. If not the family will choose them with guidance from the minister.
The funeral service may take place either at the church or at the crematorium.
1. A reading from the Bible
"Jesus said I am the resurrection, and I am the light; he who believes in me, though he dies, yet he will live, and whoever believes in me shall never die" [John 11:25-26]
2. A Psalm is read (Psalm 23, 90, 121 or 130 are common)
3. A reading from Scripture (John 14:1-6 or 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
4. A sermon about the deceased will be read
5. Prayers for the dead and for the living
6. The committal, either burial or cremation if it is a burial the following words are used:
"We commit (name of deceased) body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust"
Although a funeral is always sorrowful, a Christian funeral is not total misery, as Christians are aware that, as long as the deceased has lived a good life, death is the doorway into a better existence. Hence, the funeral does nothing for the deceased, its purpose is to help the living come to terms with their grief.
Christians have always seen death not as the end to life but as a stage on life's journey.
"God so loved the world that he gave his only son that who ever believes in him will not die but have eternal life" [John 3:16]
"I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor powers, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:38,39]
Christians believe that God created each individual to be able to have a personal relationship with him which begins in this life but which is only fully realised in the next. In the early centuries of Christianity it was though that the body itself would be resurrected after death. Most Christians now believe that only the invisible part of a person, their soul (inner self) lives on. For this reason cremation is allowed.