Term 3: Complete Matters of Life & Death and Begin

Marriage & The Family

1. The Media &

Matters Of Life &

Death

2. Christian

Attitudes to Sex

Outside Marriage3. Attitudes to

Sex Outside

Marriage Of One

Religion Other

Than Christianity

4. Christian

Attitudes to

Divorce

5. Attitudes to Divorce

In One Religion Other

Than Christianity

6. Assessment

Lesson

Complete

Marriage & The

Family

February Half

Term

7. Assessment

Feedback

D Describe different attitudes to divorce and some ideas as to why this is

C/B Explain different attitudes to divorce and some ideas as to why this is

A/A*Evaluate the different Christian attitudes to divorce (and marriage) and the reasons for them.

Key Words: Re-Marriage, Covenant, Annulment, Bygamy, Adultery, Forgiveness

Title: Different Christian Attitudes to Divorce

TWO KEY WORDS TO REMEMBER…

Divorce

The LEGAL ending of a

marriage.

Re-marriage

Marrying again after being

divorced from a

previous marriage

Reconstituted family – a family

made up of adults and children

from 2 other families where a

divorce has usually previously

taken place. Includes step

parents, step brother/sister etc…

PROMISES, PROMISES…

In pairs think of five different promises that you will make to another person in your life.

List them in order of most important to least important

Most Important

Least important

Guilt

Duty

Pride

Desire to succeed

Because a promise is

special

So, you’ll know that there are different views on Divorce

depending on which type of Christian you

are…Quickly discuss what

you expect each group’s views to be

Catholic

Liberal

Church of England

Advice on Divorce!

If you are Christian you will need to think of the following …

Design a leaflet. Draw three columns on a new page turned round to landscape

Divorce … The Real Story!

If you are Catholic

you will need to be

aware …

If you are Church of

England you will

need to be aware …

As a Liberal

Christian you will

need to be aware …

Read the next five slides and make notes in your three columns as a rough draft.

So, why is divorce such a problem for many Christians?

‘… to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.’

Where would you hear these words?

‘A man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his wife…’

Jesus in Mark’s Gospel

‘Any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman’

Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel

‘A man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one… no human being then must separate what God has joined together’.

Jesus in Mark’s Gospel

Yeah, but what about forgiveness … surely that’s

what Jesus said was most important?

Jesus also said that while

laws were important, love

and forgiveness were far

more important.

This is why SOME

Christians believe that on

occasions, allowing a

divorce may be the most

loving thing to do.

Read the story of the

Woman Caught In Adultery.

How doe the story help

with the topic of divorce?

The Woman Caught in Adultery (John, Chapter 8)

8 Then everyone went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early the next morning he went back to the Temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery, and they made her stand before them all. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?” 6 They said this to trap Jesus, so that they could accuse him. But he bent over and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 As they stood there asking him questions, he straightened up and said to them, “Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her.” 8 Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first. Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there. 10 He straightened up and said to her, “Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she answered.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.”

There is nothing new:

1. Catholics – traditional and strict2. Church of England – In between the two extremes3. Liberals – focus on the impact of love so permit divorce more often

The attitudes are very similar to:1. Sex before marriage2. Abortion3. Euthanasia

Catholic teaching is always more strict, and Liberal Christians are always more accepting

Catholic Church of England

Liberal

Marriage is a sacrament – a holy relationship with promises made in front of God

At times marriages do fail and if this happens the couple can live apart but NEVER have a sexual relationship with another person.

Not all marriages work out, and although it is very sad, AGAPE is important.

It may be kinder to allow a divorce and for a couple to forgive and heal.

Marriage is a life long commitment but some marriages do break down.

Jesus allowed divorce for adultery but also a loving God is prepared to forgive people’s mistakes.

Complete a final draft of your leaflet for HWK