What do Christians teach about marriage, divorce, sexual relationships and family life?
Personal and family issues: Christian teaching on the purpose of marriage, attitudes to sexual relationships including sex before marriage, Christian responses to divorce and remarriage, and the importance of the family and the upbringing of children.
A focused CCEA GCSE Religious Studies guide to personal and family issues in Unit 6 Christian Ethics. Covers Christian teaching on the purpose of marriage, attitudes to sexual relationships, responses to divorce and remarriage, and the importance of the family and raising children.
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What this dot point is asking
You need to explain Christian teaching on personal and family issues: the purpose of marriage, attitudes to sexual relationships (including sex before marriage), Christian responses to divorce and remarriage, and the importance of the family and the upbringing of children. CCEA examiners reward precise knowledge of Christian teaching, an awareness that Christians hold a range of views, and balanced evaluation. The strongest answers explain the reasons behind a teaching, not just the rule.
The purpose of marriage
These purposes mean that Christians value faithfulness and lifelong commitment, and see marriage as the setting in which love, sex and family belong together.
Sexual relationships and sex before marriage
Christians hold a range of views on sexual relationships.
- Many Christians teach that sex belongs within marriage, as the expression of lifelong, faithful love, and so regard sex before marriage as wrong.
- Others accept that, in a committed and loving relationship, sex before marriage may be acceptable, while still valuing faithfulness.
- Most Christians agree that sex should be loving, faithful and responsible, and reject casual sex that treats a person as an object.
The key idea is that, for Christians, sex is closely linked to love and commitment, even where Christians differ on the details.
Divorce and remarriage
So, while all Christians value lifelong commitment, they differ on whether, and when, divorce and remarriage can be accepted.
The importance of the family
Christians place great value on the family. They often see it as created by God and as the place where children are loved, cared for and brought up. Many Christians teach that parents have a duty to bring up children in the faith, and children a duty to honour their parents, drawing on the commandment "Honour your father and your mother." The family is seen as a setting for love, security and learning right from wrong.
How to answer a question on personal and family issues
A model paragraph built from this method: "Many Christians teach that sex belongs within marriage, the lifelong faithful union blessed by God, and so regard sex before marriage as wrong. Other Christians accept that in a loving and committed relationship sex before marriage can be acceptable. Most Christians agree, however, that sex should be loving, faithful and responsible, and reject casual sex, so even where they differ they link sex closely to love and commitment." This scores highly because it explains the reasons and shows the range of Christian views.
Try this
Q1. Name two purposes of marriage in Christian teaching. [2 marks]
- Cue. Mutual love and companionship, the right place for sexual love, and the foundation for having and raising children.
Q2. Why do some Christians not accept divorce? [2 marks]
- Cue. They teach that marriage is a lifelong vow before God, and that Jesus said, "What God has joined together, let no one separate."
Q3. What duty does the commandment "Honour your father and your mother" place on children? [2 marks]
- Cue. A duty to respect and honour their parents, part of Christian teaching on the importance of the family.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA Unit 6 (style)5 marksExplain Christian teaching about the purpose of marriage.Show worked answer →
A five-mark AO1 question. Give two or three developed points, not a list.
A gift from God: many Christians teach that marriage is created and blessed by God, a lifelong union of a couple, so it is taken seriously as a sacred commitment.
For love and companionship: marriage is for mutual love, support and faithfulness, so the couple help one another through life.
For a family: many Christians teach that marriage is the right place for sexual love and for having and raising children, so the family can be brought up in a stable, loving home.
Develop each point with what it means and, where you can, link to teaching such as the wedding vows. Two or three explained points reach the top of the mark band.
CCEA Unit 6 (style)12 marks'Divorce is always wrong for Christians.' Consider different points of view.Show worked answer →
A twelve-mark AO2 evaluation question. Give different points of view, refer to the statement and reach a justified judgement.
Agree: some Christians teach that marriage is a lifelong vow before God, "till death us do part," and point to Jesus' teaching that what God has joined together no one should separate, so they hold that divorce is wrong.
Other views: many Christians accept that marriages can break down and that divorce, while sad, may be the lesser evil, especially where there is abuse or unfaithfulness; they stress forgiveness and a fresh start, and some Churches allow remarriage.
Judgement: argue that, while Christians value lifelong marriage, many believe compassion and forgiveness allow divorce in some situations, so it is not always wrong. A balanced, supported judgement that refers to the statement reaches the top level.
Related dot points
- Matters of life and death: the Christian belief in the sanctity of life, Christian attitudes to abortion, Christian attitudes to euthanasia, and beliefs about life after death and how they shape these views.
A focused CCEA GCSE Religious Studies guide to matters of life and death in Unit 6 Christian Ethics. Covers the sanctity of life, Christian attitudes to abortion and euthanasia, and beliefs about life after death and how they shape these views, showing the range of Christian responses.
- Developments in bioethics: Christian responses to fertility treatment (IVF), genetic engineering and cloning, and embryo and stem cell research, and the ethical principles such as stewardship and 'playing God' that shape them.
A focused CCEA GCSE Religious Studies guide to developments in bioethics in Unit 6 Christian Ethics. Covers Christian responses to fertility treatment (IVF), genetic engineering and cloning, and embryo and stem cell research, and the principles of stewardship and 'playing God' that shape them.
- Prejudice and equality: Christian teaching against prejudice and discrimination, beliefs about the equality of all people, attitudes to wealth, poverty and the duty to help those in need, and the work of Christians for justice.
A focused CCEA GCSE Religious Studies guide to prejudice and equality in Unit 6 Christian Ethics. Covers Christian teaching against prejudice and discrimination, the equality of all people, attitudes to wealth, poverty and helping those in need, and Christian work for justice.
- War and peace: Christian attitudes to war, the Just War theory, Christian pacifism and the example of peacemakers, attitudes to nuclear weapons, and teaching on forgiveness and reconciliation.
A focused CCEA GCSE Religious Studies guide to war and peace in Unit 6 Christian Ethics. Covers Christian attitudes to war, the Just War theory, Christian pacifism, attitudes to nuclear weapons, and teaching on forgiveness and reconciliation, showing the range of Christian views.
Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCSE Religious Studies specification — CCEA (2017)