Why is marriage important

for society?

Aims

To understand the importance and role of marriage in religious communities and society

To explain the changing nature of relationships

Aims

I will be able to define promiscuity/cohabitation/celibacy.

I will be able to think of the positive and negative impact of marriage on society/the individual and the religious community

I will be able to explain religious attitudes to sex outside of marriage.

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

Pros

Cons

Marriage

Key Words Cohabitation: Living together

without being married.

Promiscuity: having sexual relations with a number of partners without any commitment.

Celibacy: remaining unmarried and having no sexual relationships.

How does marriage benefit the following:

The Individual

Society The Religious Communit

y

Read the following article.Form an argument in favour of marriage, supported with evidence.

http://goo.gl/u8Lig

WHY DO YOU THINK CHRISTIAN AND

ISLAMIC TEACHINGS ENCOURAGE MARRIAGE?

Bible Quotes Genesis 2:22-24 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had

taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man."  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Matthew 19:4-6 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the

Creator 'made them male and female,'  and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ?  So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Quranic teachings Read the quotes on the handout and explain

Islamic teachings on marriage. Example

[4:21] How could you take it back, after you have been intimate with each other, and they had taken from you a solemn pledge?

 The Qur’an teaches about the importance of keeping marriage vows

Hinduism Marriage in Hinduism is said to fulfill three

functions: Prajaa, Dharma, and Rati. In marriage, Prajaa is about perpetuating the family, Dharma is fulfillment of responsibilities, and Rati is companionship as friends and mutual pleasure as lovers. These three functions are given in the Dharma Shastras, books that are not considered to be religiously binding within Hinduism.

Hinduism Marriage is encouraged and living a single

celibate life is discouraged. It is because of this that arranged marriages

have been a common practice. Marriage not only brings two people together,

it also brings together two families. This is why many parents will want to have

their say.

Buddhism No strict rules Marriage is considered to be a secular affair, although they

may include blessings from monks, chanting and reciting from scripture.

The Buddha could have had more than one wife but chose not to. Better to be monogamous?

He disagreed with adultery as it breaks the third precept.

Buddha’s teachings on marriage

Adultery breaks the third precept.

Marriage should be consensual and for

love.If the couple have equal karma, they

may well be together in the next life.

Key words:

Adultery: a married person having sexual relations with someone other than their marriage partner.

Faithfulness: Staying only with the partner and having sexual relations only with that partner.

Pre – marital sex: having sexual relations before marriage.

cohabitationWhy do some couples choose not to marry?

Why do some choose to have families without getting married?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uXXK6IQOfY

Civil partnerships

What is the difference between civil partnerships and marriage? Marriage can be civil or religious. Civil

partnership is only civil and never religious. However, some Churches allow blessing of civil partnerships.

The recent debate on civil partnership and marriage in UK

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17394564

Read the following article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18407568

Task Define civil partnerships and explain the difference

between a civil partnership and a marriage. Outline the law regarding civil partnerships in the

UK and Malaysia

Arguments for Promotes equality. We are living in a

modern society that values differences.

‘civil partnership’ is a label that highlights differences

To say a same sex couple cannot marry implies their love and commitment is inferior to that of a heterosexual couple.

Arguments against The argument is over a word,

‘marriage’. This seems pointless (could also be an argument for?)

This involves changing an institution The definition of marriage is the union of

a man and a woman. One purpose of marriage is to have children. Homosexual couples cannot do this.

Natural law Sharia law

Explain why some people are opposed to civil partnerships. 8 marks.

Changing gender roles in families Roles today are not as clearly defined as they

once were. So what roles do men and women have now?

Back in the day…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2jfVjCsyqc

So how have things changed now? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l51rxnKJRfk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifz4HykIDq8

Make notes on key points and statistics.

Think: How have things changed? Why is this the case?

Think of married couples you know… What are the roles of the men and women?

What role do you imagine you will have in a future relationship?

Read the following article Add to the facts and statistics from your earlier notes http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/4600556/House-h

usbands-Are-you-man-enough.html

Write a recipe for an Excellent Relationship

Why don’t relationships always

work?

Divorce

Divorce

The easy option?

Who is affected by divorce?How are they affected?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTd-aEuD_pw

Christianity: the Bible

"Whoever divorces a wife, except for sexual indecency, and remarries, commits adultery" (Matt. 19:9)

To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband 11(but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. (1Corinthians 7:10)

Christianity In the Bible divorce is mentioned as a

permitted institution but it is never encouraged.

Different Christians have different views on divorce.

Catholics: against divorce. Church of England: permits divorce (Henry

VIII)

Islam According to Islamic teaching marriage is a

legally binding contract but according to Sharia law, divorce is permissible. There are strict guidelines about this process. The guidelines include a period of reconciliation to ensure the couple is certain and divorce is a last resort.