What do religions teach about human sexuality and contraception?
Religious and non-religious teachings on sexual relationships (sex before and outside marriage), same-sex relationships, and the use of contraception and family planning.
An Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120) Component 1 answer on human sexuality and contraception, covering sex before and outside marriage, same-sex relationships, and contraception and family planning, from Christian, Islamic and non-religious (Humanist) perspectives, with sources of wisdom and authority.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to explain religious and non-religious teachings on sexual relationships (sex before and outside marriage), same-sex relationships, and contraception and family planning, from Christian, Islamic and non-religious (including Humanist) perspectives. This is part of the Issues of Relationships theme. It feeds 15-mark evaluation questions on sex and on contraception, so you need the content, both religions' views, the range within each, and the sources of wisdom and authority Eduqas rewards.
Sexual relationships
Traditional Christian and Muslim teaching is that sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed within marriage.
- Sex before marriage is traditionally seen as wrong; chastity is valued. "Flee from sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18); the Qur'an says "do not go near adultery (zina)" (Surah 17:32). Some liberal Christians are more accepting of sex within a committed, loving relationship.
- Adultery (sex with someone other than one's spouse) is condemned by both religions as a betrayal that breaks the marriage bond and a commandment ("You shall not commit adultery", Exodus 20:14).
Humanists have no religious rule about sex within marriage: they judge sexual relationships by consent, love, honesty and the avoidance of harm, so a committed unmarried couple are not, on their view, doing wrong.
Same-sex relationships
The legalisation of same-sex marriage in civil law has sharpened this debate, and Eduqas expects you to show the range of religious views rather than treating any one as "the" Christian or Muslim position.
Contraception and family planning
Views on contraception depend on the tradition. Many Protestants and Muslims permit contraception within marriage for responsible family planning. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex should remain open to procreation, so it permits only natural methods (such as natural family planning) and not artificial contraception, drawing on "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) and the encyclical Humanae Vitae. Where preventing the spread of disease is concerned, some take a more flexible view. Humanists see contraception as a sensible, responsible choice that supports planned families and health.
Common and divergent views
The common view among religious believers is that sex is best within a faithful, committed relationship, and that adultery is wrong. The divergences are over sex before marriage (traditional disapproval versus liberal acceptance), same-sex relationships (from full acceptance to heterosexual-marriage-only), and contraception (Catholic natural methods only versus Protestant and Muslim acceptance within marriage). Humanists judge all of these by consent, love and harm. For the exam, present the range clearly and use it both ways in the evaluation.
Try this
Q1. What is the Roman Catholic teaching on contraception? [a-style recall]
- Cue. Sex should remain open to procreation, so the Catholic Church permits only natural methods (such as natural family planning) and not artificial contraception.
Q2. Explain why a Humanist and a traditional Christian might disagree about sex before marriage. [b-style short explanation]
- Cue. A traditional Christian holds that sex is a gift from God for within marriage ("flee from sexual immorality", 1 Corinthians 6:18), so sex before marriage is wrong; a Humanist judges by consent, love and harm, so a committed, caring unmarried relationship is not wrong on their view.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas C120 2019 (style)2 marks[a] What is meant by contraception?Show worked answer →
This is the 2-mark (a) AO1 definition question. Define the term precisely: contraception is the deliberate use of methods to prevent pregnancy. A short developed phrase secures both marks, for example "the use of artificial or natural methods (such as the pill or natural family planning) to prevent conception during sex". A single word risks only one mark.
Eduqas C120 2021 (style)8 marks[c] Explain religious teachings about contraception. Refer to sources of wisdom and authority in your answer.Show worked answer →
This is the 8-mark (c) extended AO1 question, and referring to sources is required for the top band. Explain the range: many Protestants and Muslims permit contraception within marriage for responsible family planning; the Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex should remain open to procreation, so it permits only natural methods (such as natural family planning) and not artificial contraception, drawing on "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) and the encyclical Humanae Vitae. Some take a more flexible view where preventing disease is concerned. The top band rewards developed points each tied to a named source and showing the range within and between religions.
Eduqas C120 2022 (style)15 marks[d] "Sex should only take place within marriage." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to religious beliefs and teachings, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion.Show worked answer →
This is the 15-mark (d) AO2 evaluation question, where SPaG is assessed, so write in continuous prose with specialist terms. Arguments to support: traditional Christian and Muslim teaching is that sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed within marriage; "flee from sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18) and "do not go near adultery (zina)" (Surah 17:32), and chastity protects commitment and children. Arguments for a different view: some liberal Christians accept sex within a committed, loving relationship; Humanists judge by consent, love and harm rather than rules, so committed unmarried couples are not doing wrong. Use specialist terms (chastity, adultery, zina, contraception). A justified conclusion weighs the religious case for sex within marriage against the non-religious case based on consent and commitment.
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Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies specification (C120, from 2016) — WJEC Eduqas (2016)