Being exclusive means that both of the couples come to a point where, they trust and have loyalty on each other which is substantial that they should keep this in mind. Ephesians 5:28-30 explains to you, ‘Men ought to love their wives just as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself (people never hate their own bodies. Instead they feed them and take care of them, just as Christ the Church does’, from this teaching, it tells us that couples should show love, faith and respect for each other just as Jesus does it for the church. From the biblical teachings of Exodus 20:14, it says ‘Do not commit adultery’ which clearly states, that divorcing your partner and moving on to another person is wrong is likewise of committing adultery.
Marriage is permanent and in religious terms it’s a long lasting contract between you, your partner and the Catholic Church, this lasts till your partner dies. ‘‘Certainly you will understand what I am about to say, my brothers and sisters, because all of you know about law. The law rules over people as long as they live. This teaching from the Romans (7:1-3). As the passage goes on, it gives an example of a woman, if she is married to a man and has affairs with another man while he is alive, that means that she is committing adultery. But when her husband dies, the woman is allowed to marry another man by this law.
Being ‘fruitful’ and having the potential decision of having an intercourse, and reproducing is what marriage is also about, Life- Giving is an important event as the couple, have to be open minded about the plans on having children. ‘’So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them, male and female, blessed them, and said, ‘’Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control’’ from Genesis (1 27-28), is telling you that it’s God’s command to extend the family into newer generations.
Marriage is based on love , and looking at the Roman catholic Society’s beliefs, love is the key to everything, that is why it’s an important ideal for catholic marriages . According to 1Corinthians (13: 4-7), it says “Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; Love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and it’s faith, hope, and patience never fail.” This extract has a complete positivity about love, and what it really means, it also says that it’s not happy if your with wrong person, but you’ll be happy with the person, when there’s trust.
The bible also teaches us out life, as it is important for parent and their children to have good bonds within each other and take good care of each other. Paul’s first letter to Timothy 5: 8, says “But if anyone does not take care of his relatives, especially the members of his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” This verse from the bible, tells you that it is very important that you take care of your relatives, and if you don’t you will be worse than a unbeliever. It’s also important to respect the members of your family, when you give respect to them you will always get it back, as respecting will chain onto a good relationship. Colossians 3: 20-21 says that, “Children, it is your duty to obey your parents always, for that is what pleases God”. This suggests that the children of Gods are the ones who respect their parents. And also “Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged. This tells you that parents should also be aware that if they don’t treat their children the right way, nothing won’t go the right way, in a way where they fully lose their parent’s respect and will go out of control.
What I believe in, is without love, there is nothing between a married man and woman, it will also prevent some of the ideals, so with love any couple can maintain their love throughout their lives, Also for the families, they should all love, respect, and care for each other, to have a happy life all together.
Anton Rajasooriya R.E Coursework (Part A) Candidate no: 8192