Outline and explain Christian beliefs about marriage.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – COURSE WORK ASSIGNMENT

MARRIAGE

AO1 OUTLINE AND EXPLAIN CHRISTIAN BELIEFS ABOUT MARRIAGE.

Marriage is important to Roman Catholics as it represents the love and special bond within a relationship between two people. The opening chapters of the bible introduce the divine purpose and plan for marriage, showing Christians that marriage is important. Christian marriage, in the bible, clearly affirms that our sexuality is part of Gods creation, and that marriage is God’s institution. In biblical terms, five marriage stipulations are highlighted including monogamous, heterosexual, publicly acknowledged, consummated in sexual union and life long. The bible emphasises to couples what marriage entails today. These emphasise the meaning of a Catholic marriage as a sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church, which should be permanent, exclusive and life giving.

For Christians there are many beliefs about marriage, one key theme is that marriage is permanent. A key belief is that marriage should last forever; there should be a special bond between a couple which is indissoluble and irrevocable, whatever the circumstances, ‘till death do is part’. During the service the priest questions the couple, he asks three questions, one question sums up all the ideas about permanence, ‘Will you love and honour each other for life?’ This is a direct question to the couple, asking whether they are committed enough, it also highlights the responsibilities of marriage. ‘For life’ suggests permanence as to whether the couple are prepared to spend their whole lives together.

Rings used also show permanence, these are a symbol of love and fidelity. Here, couples promise themselves to each other in a permanent and exclusive relationship. During the homily the priest will mention the dignity of married love and how this will help the couple grow closer to God through each other. The priest highlights the responsibilities of marriage stating that marriage is a permanent commitment that should not be jeopardised. In Mark, Chapter 10 V 1-12, Jesus talks about marriage to his disciples, he tells them, ‘what God has joined together let no man put asunder’. Again this sums up the Christian belief about permanence, what God has joined together, let no one part.

Marriage is exclusive as it demands faithfulness. Every marriage should be unique and special. Through the vows, we learn about the exclusiveness of the marriage, “to have and to hold from this day forward” it shows couples that they have each other forever from that day forward, whatever the circumstances. The priest asks the couple, a key question which is linked with exclusiveness of the marriage. ‘Have you come to give yourself to each other freely and without reservation? This shows the exclusiveness as it is bringing the couple together freely, showing full commitment and faithfulness to each other.

An example of faithfulness is when Jesus teaches during the Sermon on the Mount. He said ‘You have heard that it was said ‘Do not commit adultery’. I tell you, anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her, is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell’. This highlights Jesus’ feeling towards the exclusive sacrament of marriage.

Marriage is life giving as love is life giving. The love exchanged in sex, is life giving because it has the potential to create new human life. Relationships often involve the idea of children, and responsible parenthood should follow. Families develop from loving relationships. This then corresponds to the life giving potential of marriage.

In 1982, Pope John Paul II visited the United Kingdom, during the Mass he delivered his homily. Here he highlighted a point about marriage. He said, ‘Married life and family life is the loving way, in which most people choose to answer God’s call. In a marriage, couples give themselves fully to each other’. The family is generated from the love of a husband and wife, and a married couple should ensure that their family is a community of love. This teaching, further emphasises the three key beliefs about Christian marriage, it is permanent, exclusive and life giving.

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Pope John Paul II, also emphasised the fact that couples should understand what the responsibilities are, when creating new human life. He also highlighted the reasons why people should bring their children up in the catholic faith, but emphasised the need to create a loving environment in which to live. The question asked by the priest, Will you accept children loving from God’ again shows the responsibility and idea of children. The family is at the heart of Christian faith.

Jesus teaches us about marriage and divorce, but although marriage is permanent, the divorce rate is rising. Marriage is exclusive, but adultery is common, marriage is life giving but contraception and abortion is used if needed. All these problems serve to undermine marriage. They do not relate to the teaching given by the church.

Many Christian denominations have slightly different attitudes towards divorce. All Christians agree that divorce is not what God wants and should be avoided. The Roman Catholic Church does not accept divorce. In the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, couples are married for life and to remarry would be adultery. Occasionally an annulment is allowed. The Church of England does not in principle, support divorce either. Their main policy is not to remarry divorcees in a church ceremony. Many Free Churches accept divorce and allow remarriage to take place during a church ceremony. They believe it is better for death of love, rather than a death physically.

In the Roman Catholic Church marriage is a sacrament. A man and a woman become whole in the sacrament of marriage and it becomes the mirror of everlasting love. The marriage makes the contract between the couple holy. Marriage is a symbol for the church because Gods love is reflected in love, which husbands and wives have for each other. All of the other churches would agree that marriage should be permanent, exclusive and it is the best possible place to bring up children.

AO2: HOW MIGHT CHRISTIAN BELIEFS (IDENTIFIED IN AO1) ABOUT MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE BE APPLIED TO CHRISTIAN LIVING. IN YOUR ANSWER CONSIDER ONE OR MORE SITUATIONS IN WHICH CHRISTIAN BELIEF WOULD “MAKE A DIFFERENCE”. CONSIDER WHETHER ALL CHRISTIAN COUPLES WOULD RESPOND IN THE SAME WAY.

For Christians today, beliefs that are identified in AO1 are important. The teachings, examine guidelines on how couples should live their married life. Although some Christian couples forget their beliefs, and turn against the teaching and divorce occurs.

In today’s society, ‘marriage being permanent and exclusive’ is not always relevant for couples. A couple may not be faithful to one another and this results in the loss of exclusiveness between them. Some people feel permanence is irrelevant as they divorce, but still say ‘till death do us part’, clearly though one should only say this once otherwise it becomes a self contradictory statement.

Many marriages end in divorce. Many couples who marry find that they can no longer live together and end their marriage. A divorce is a legal termination of marriage. However, it does not necessarily mean that they do not believe in the permanence and exclusiveness of marriage, it is just that they do not manage to make theirs work. There are many reasons why a marriage breaks down. This could be due to adultery; one partner may have treated the other unreasonably, either by physical or mental cruelty. Another reason could be, if one person has been deserted by the other, for a continuous period of two years, or if the couple has lived apart for two years and both consent to a divorce.

The Roman Catholic Church does not accept divorce. In the eyes of the denomination, couples are married for life and they believe to remarry is adultery. However, in the Roman Catholic Church, annulments are granted, if for example, the marriage has not been consummated. Here, there has never been sexual intercourse between the couple. Meanwhile, difficulties arise when a person cannot obtain an annulment but want to marry a second time. Some Catholics will give up their faith in order to remarry; others would accept the church’s teaching and deny themselves a life time of love.

An example of this is when a couple marry, and one of them does not consummate the marriage. On these grounds, the Roman Catholic Church would grant an annulment, if a divorce is also granted. With this, both people would be able to remarry in the Roman Catholic Church. Although, if two people married in the Roman Catholic Church and they divorce, these people would not be permitted to remarry in the church. These seriously affect some strong Christians, as they believe that marriage is for life and are devastated by marital breakdown. They feel that they have disowned the church by divorcing. Also, if that person remarries, in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church it would be classed as adultery. This person may not be able to receive Eucharist at Mass, as they feel that it would be wrong. This can result in real hurt and a feeling of isolation from the Church.

Marriages do fail and different Christians respond in a variety of ways to this difficult situation. Catholics in this situation can be frustrated if they cannot obtain an annulment and they wish to marry again. Some Church of England ministers take a sympathetic approach and will bless second marriages. However, there is no such cushion for Roman Catholics whose marriages fail. This can cause real problems for Catholics, particularly if they go ahead and remarry outside the church; such people are asked to refrain from taking the Eucharist. This can be extremely hurtful to some people who are practising as the Eucharist is at the very heart of Catholic belief. To others who do not take the faith seriously, it may not be an issue at all. Other Catholics may choose not to remarry and live life alone because their first marriage did not work and they do not want to go against their beliefs.

Different Christians have different responses to contraception. Catholic teaching does not permit the use of artificial contraception. Some Catholics completely reject this teaching and use artificial methods. This is not a dilemma for other Christians as there is no ban on contraception.

“Any use whatsoever of marriage must retain its natural potential to pro-create human life”. This means that all sexual intercourse in marriage should be natural and open to the possibility of new human life. The only form of planning would be the natural method. All artificial chemical and physical methods of contraception are rejected by the teaching authority of the Catholic Church. The church does have a positive role in supporting couples through the sacrament; it blesses the couple with married life. With Christian belief and practice, the couple gain strength, while guiding the couple through the sacrament of marriage.

On the other hand, some couples completely reject the churches teaching on marriage and divorce. Some couples get married without understanding the full commitment needed and the life giving possibilities. Some couples choose to have a traditional church wedding, but often do so for the wrong reasons. Others genuinely want to live up to the commitment of their wedding vows made in Church. They may well be strengthened by their shared beliefs. Being a practising Christian gives the couple the support of their faith, community and their own belief in Jesus, is a tremendous bolster to a martial relationship.

An example of how Christian beliefs have an impact on married life, are my parents. They have been married for twenty seven years. They live out everyday together, being married to each other. I think that my parents have a successful marriage. They have an exclusive bond, permanence, and a relationship which is life giving. My parent’s maybe witnesses to this belief. They have a secure relationship, built on trust and love, which is maybe why they have been together for over twenty seven years.

Controversially, we all know of Christians couples whose marriages fail; this may be due to the fact that their relationships may not include love or commitment. It is often much easier to divorce, than to work at the problems within a marriage. Most Catholic couples would believe that when they take their marriage vows they are making a commitment for life through the sacrament of marriage. Six out of ten married couples try to work at their marriages and have a successful married life, but this shows that four out of ten marriages do not work. Couples may not work at their marriage if problems do arise, this then leads to divorce.

AO3: EVALUATE DIFFERENT RESPONSES TO THE MORAL ISSUE

“FOR CHRISTIANS, SEX IS ONLY RIGHT WITHIN MARRIAGE”.

Many people often have different responses to this moral issue “For Christians sex is only right within marriage.” Sexual activity has two main purposes; it is life giving and love communicating. These two purposes go hand in hand; children are the manifestations of love between parents. For humans, sex is a total act, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I believe that sex is a total act, without these three main acts, the true meaning of a marriage will not be fulfilled. Many couples need all three to make their marriage complete.

Some people may believe that sex before and outside marriage is acceptable, as it is not harming anyone, and they may enjoy it. Some people may also believe that their relationship could develop further and may then consider marriage. I feel that if Christians have been together for a long period of time and are totally committed to each other, and that marriage could become a reality, the couple could rethink their Christian beliefs then sex may then be acceptable. However, pre-martial sex leads to the dilution of marriage responsibilities and privileges of bringing up children. In my opinion these people may not understand the true meaning of sex and the things that go with it. I do not think that sex outside marriage is right. It goes against the vows “to love and to cherish till death do us part”. By indulging in sex outside marriage dilutes these vows. It undermines the whole purpose of marriage.

Some Christians may believe that sex is a common occurrence and believe it is a necessity that has to be indulged in. They may not think about the consequences of an unwanted child or an inappropriate marriage. This casual approach to sex cheapens the idea of one person giving themselves to another.

Catholics believe that sex is only right when couples are married. They believe that this is the most dignified way, and believe that a partner is the only person with whom one should ever have sex with. In the same way, I believe this; I think sex is right when you are with someone who totally respects you and vice-versa. In my opinion, a couple who only have sex with each other create a bond between each other that can only grow stronger.

Sex is more widely talk about today, and people are experiencing sexual intercourse earlier in life. This may be due to the power of the media. The media promotes the idea of sex; it is highlighted on television programmes, films and within articles in newspapers and magazines. Today it is much more publicised. This then results in a lot of people having sex, because the people on the television are having sex and they feel it is cool, and the right thing to do. Many television programmes show unhappy marriages and unwanted pregnancies which often highlights the bad side of marriage. I feel that they use these issues to generate viewing figures. These issues often cause controversy and debate. Television companies rarely show happy, fulfilled families.

Nowadays, many young people feel that they are expected to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. This could lead to serious relationships developing while still in full time education. Peer pressure is often highlighted as one of the reasons why people undertake sex outside marriage. I feel that this is a serious problem that needs to be tackled early as children are becoming more sexually aware. In my opinion, it often depends on the individual and as a teenager myself; I do not feel any pressure from my friends to do anything I do not want to do.

One night stands are often highlighted within the media nowadays. There are many disadvantages to sex on one night stands, with one parent families occurring as a result, unwanted pregnancies, cases of hardship, and a higher incidence of sexually transmitted infections. I feel that these problems are often the cause of many marriage breakdowns.

In my opinion, I think that sex is a very special bond between a couple which should be thought about carefully. A couple should think about the idea of new human life which could be created, and it should bring the couple closer to God through each other. I believe that sex is a gift from God that may involve creating a new life. During sex intercourse couples should have respect for themselves and for their partner.