Outline and assess the main reasons for the increase in the Divorce rate since the 1970s.

Outline and assess the main reasons for the increase in the Divorce rate since the 1970s. Wide ranges of data and theories have helped to show and illustrate why divorce rates have increase since the 1970s. Since then many laws and theories have been set and ruled. In 1971 the government set "the divorce reform act". This law made divorce easier and a lot cheaper for couples who decided they wanted a divorce and also allowed couples to divorce after only two years of marriage. Before this time divorces were hard to get and were only allowed on the basis of matrimonial offences, showing or proving that one partner had done wrong to the other. These matrimonial offences remained the main reason for divorce until 1971. Since 1971 divorces were easily carried out for more reasons other than just matrimonial offences. Since the 1970s the rates have dramatically increased because a lot of teenagers and younger people are getting married and their relationships don't last long leading to divorce. In 1985 the 1984 Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act became effective, this allowed couples to divorce after only one year of marriage. By this time many more women were independent and were working, which was a challenge to men who still expected women to be at home and doing housework. This helped to increase the number of divorces. The expectation of more in marriages has

  • Word count: 826
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Examine the reasons for changes in the patterns of marriage, cohabitation and divorce in the last 30 years.

SOCIOLOGY EXAM Examine the reasons for changes in the patterns of marriage, cohabitation and divorce in the last 30 years. Throughout the study of sociology, one of the most important studies has been that of a family. Theorists such as Young and Wilmott, Talcott Parsons and even Karl Marx have tried to explain the evolution of the family, why certain patterns exist. However, looking at the area of marriage, divorce and cohabitation, it is really in the last 30 years of study that the major changes have occurred. There is an ever growing increase in the divorce rate, people are living together without being married for longer and marriage is being seen more and more as a legal contract. The reason for these changes is because of laws, changing norms and values and changes in the connotations with words such as divorced parents, single mother and cohabitation. Firstly, the major factor in the way marriage is looked upon these days is the Divorce laws of the 1970's. Right at the beginning of this period, people who were in unhappy marriages had to put forward a severe case for divorce if it were to happen. But after the laws were introduced, people who were in these situations could get away with a lighter case still being accepted. Mutual agreement was becoming more common, as if a woman was in an unhappy relationship, she could decide on a court settlement, which could cost

  • Word count: 559
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Examine the reasons for changes in the patterns of marriage, cohabitation and divorce in the last 30 years.

Rachel Stevens Sociology Question e.) Examine the reasons for changes in the patterns of marriage, cohabitation and divorce in the last 30 years. 20marks Over the last 30 years there has been a significant change in the pattern for marriage, co-habitation and divorce. There are many reasons for these changes that have taken place. For example, since 1971, when a divorce act was introduced, divorce has been more acceptable in today's society. This has slowly increased the figures of divorce at a steady rate. A downfall in religion has also contributed to more people co-habiting before marriage or even instead of marriage all together. There has also been a change in the average marriage age due to factors like women striving more for careers instead of families. The increase of divorce rates and co-habitation has resulted in the two-parent nuclear family (headed by a married couple), to steadily decrease as a proportion of all families. This essay will look at these factors and examine how and why the pattern of them is changing. The divorce rate has rapidly increased over the past 30 years. Changes in the law have added to this increase. Before 30 years ago a 'matrimonial offence' had to be proven and a 'guilty party' had to be found for a divorce to be accepted. However The Divorce Reform Act introduced in 1971 meant it was no longer necessary to

  • Word count: 1086
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain how the rituals and vows connected with Christian marriage ceremonies might influence the differing ways that couples approach marriage and marital breakdown.

Explain how the rituals and vows connected with Christian marriage ceremonies might influence the differing ways that couples approach marriage and marital breakdown. Marriage is a gift from God, given to us so man and women can live together in joy and love. It is a major life long commitment and a commitment from one person to the other. It is also the start of what could become a family unit. It is something, which should be considered very seriously before participating in, as it is something that one must stand by, no matter what until his or her partner dies. This is why the vows are 'to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.' The bible tells us that in marriage a man and a woman become one ''this at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. This is to be called woman as it is taken from man.' (Genesis 2:24) this shows how close two people in marriage are, and how special their relationship is. The bible also tells us that in marriage we should create a family, ' be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and conquer it.' (Genesis 1:28) the bible also tells us that sex should be confined to a marriage. Men and women were expected by God to stay virgins until they marry and within marriage use sex to create a family. 'But if what he

  • Word count: 2056
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain in detail, the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church about The sacrament of marriage.

AO1: Explain in detail, the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church about The sacrament of marriage (720 words) The Roman Catholic Church has a very specific interpretation of marriage and how it should be accepted. Marriage is one of the sacraments. It is one of the ceremonies that the Roman Catholic Church expects a devoted catholic to go through. It is believed to bring you one step closer to God. Marriage is also a covenant, a promise to one another. It is an eternal agreement between two people to allocate themselves to each other. The Catholic Church believes that the relationship between two people should be like the creation story. Adam and Eve are model parents and set an example to all couples. God wants all Catholics to have a bond between each other shown in the creation story. Jesus had a different view to the Old Testament which was that "two people become one" once they unite. Jesus said "No human being must separate what God has joined together", meaning that it is not our job to choose to separate. Jesus was completely against the idea of divorce. The Pope has a similar opinion to Jesus that "a man and a woman pledge themselves to one another in an unbreakable alliance" meaning that a marriage is unbreakable and that they are choosing to enter an alliance, a life long commitment. Hosea emphasised that marriage was a symbol of Gods covenantal love. He

  • Word count: 1897
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Describe a Catholic Wedding Ceremony and the Ideals Expressed Within It.

Describe a catholic wedding ceremony and the ideals expressed within it? Many people think that a wedding in a church is important so that the people getting married are under the eyes of God therefore because of its significance a lot of important vows and ideals are expressed. "The love of man and woman is made holy in the sacrament of marriage, and becomes the mirror of your everlasting love", (Preface of the wedding mass) this quote literally spell's out what the sacrament of marriage is for. Marriage is the final sacrament of a catholic person's life, but marriage can only be conceived in a church if one or both of the people receiving the sacrament of marriage has had in this order a baptism, first communion and is a confirmed catholic, then and only then can a marriage take place in the house of God, marriage is a solemn contract between a man and a woman who share love together. In the Roman Catholic religion marriage is very important this is because of the ideals which it consist of, these are as follows: Marriage is a sacrament this means that it is one of the seven signs by which the love of god is celebrated and shared with others. Marriage is indissoluble this means that it is a life long commitment and can not be broken, this is one of the ideals which the catholic church feel strongly about because it follows the teachings of Christ and the bible in which it

  • Word count: 3416
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Describe a catholic wedding ceremony and the ideals expressed within it.

Marriage - Describe a catholic wedding ceremony and the ideals expressed within it. Marriage as seen from a Catholic point of view is a sacred bond of unity shared between man and women in the eyes of God; it is when they come into a relationship of love and companionship for life. Catholics believe that the love between a married couple is to reflect the love Jesus Christ has for his Church. Marriage is the last sacrament in a catholic person's life, but marriage can only happen in a church if one or both of the couple has had their baptism, first communion and confirmation. It is only then that marriage can take place in Gods house. Many people believe that a wedding in a church is important so that they can get married under the eyes of god because of its significance a lot of important vows and ideals are expressed. Marriage is very important to Catholics because of the ideals it consists of. The ideals that marriage consists of are as followed: - Marriage is a sacrament which means that it is one of the seven signs that god has given us to share his love with others. - Marriage is permanent which means it is a life long commitment and cannot be broken, "...What God has united, man must not divide."(Mark 10:6-9), these words represent that divorce is against the will of God. This is one of the ideals which the Catholic Church feel strongly about because it follows

  • Word count: 3379
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Arranged Marriages- What they really are

________________ M arriage is a social tradition (usually legally confirmed) uniting a man and a woman in special form of mutual dependence, usually for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family. Arranged marriages, which had been accepted almost all around the world throughout history, eventually ceased to be performed in Western societies, although they continued in custom in upper-class society until the mid-20th century. Today, arranged marriage is largely practiced in South Asia (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka), Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Arranged marriages are usually seen in Indian, traditional European and African cultures, especially among royalty, and are usually decided by the parents or an older family member. The match could be selected by parents, a matchmaking agent, matrimonial site, or a trusted third party. In many communities, priests or religious leaders as well as relatives or family friends play a major role in matchmaking. An African Arranged Marriage Differences between forced marriage and arranged marriage Although matches are made by family or relatives etc., it should not be confused with the idea of forced marriage. Forced marriage is a marriage in which one or both of the parties are married without his or her consent or against his or her will. However, in an arranged marriage most couples will

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Marriage and Divorce.

Marriage and Divorce Marriage and divorce may be approached in differing ways by a couple according to the vows and rituals they undertake prior to, during and after the wedding ceremony. Marriage like family is an institution for all regardless of religious convictions. The basis of a marriage varies in different cultures; in the West...romantic love, while in other cultures, marriages are arranged by parents for political, financial and cultural reasons. In the Western world, the Christian and Jewish communities consider monogamous relationships, those that occur between a male and a female, acceptable. Modern Christianity and affluent societies insist marriages should be strictly monogamous, (one man should only have one wife, and one woman should only have one husband.) In some religions it is believed marriages must remain exclusive until one partner dies or the marriage is annulled. Due to the ever increasing numbers of divorces and remarriages, the practice of having additional spouses consecutively (serial monogamy) is becoming ever more common. In Christian cultures, polygamy is regarded as immoral and adulterous. It violates one of the Ten Commandments, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Polygyny, the state of practice of having more than one wife at the same time is widespread within certain cultures, i.e. Islamic societies in Africa and The Church of the

  • Word count: 2555
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Marriage in Christianity

Marriage in Chrisianity Before marriage most Christians believe that being in a relationship is to get to know each other and see if they are strong enough as partners to get married and to continue the teachings of christianity to their Children. Christians believe that within a relationship sex is forbidded until marriage but some Christians believe that if the couples both love each other them it's OK. Christian's beleive that marriage is really a life long committment. This is because everyone is created by God and that God made this to symbolise the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Holy Church. Christians believe that is part of Gods plan for humanity. There are different ways in which Christians get married; the most common method is getting married at church. All Christians believe that marriage is ideally for life so that means that the marriage must work out for the couple. So the couple both must be there for each other when they are in trouble and need help as they have made vows to each other when they were getting married. A person's belief about God is mainly decided by their family and the people they grow up with. Those who are brought up in families where religion is a priority will tend to have a religious view to life. This can be taken one stage further by saying that those who are brought up in a Christian family will have Christian beliefs.

  • Word count: 610
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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