RS: Unit B603 - Christian beliefs about Sexual Relationships

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Unit B603: Christianity and Human Relationships

Christian beliefs about Sexual Relationships

Key Words:

Adultery - a sexual relationship with someone other than the marriage partner

Agape - Christian love

Artificial contraception - use of something man-made to prevent contraception

Celibate - choosing to not have sex

Fidelity - faithfulness to your marriage partner

Fornication - sex before marriage or outside marriage

Heterosexual - having a partner of the opposite sex

Homosexual - one who chooses a partner of the same sex

Marriage - a legally bounding contract between a man and a woman

Monogamy - having one marriage partner

Natural Contraception - use of rhythm method to prevent conception

Permissive - accepting or following an immoral lifestyle

Polygamy - having more then one marriage partner

Promiscuity - having many sexual relationships without commitment

Pre-marital Sex - sex before marriage

Reconciliation - to get back together after sorting out problems

Sacrament - something made by God that cannot be dissolved

Faithfulness - remaining committed to your partner

Key:

What most Christians consider to be bad

What most Christians consider to be good

Christians believe sex is:

- For Procreation within a marriage

- An expression of love within a marriage

- Designed to unite a man and a woman within a marriage

- A gift from God

- Cementing a marriage

Christians believe sex is a gift from God for two people to express their love within marriage.

Some Christians accept cohabitation (a couple living together without being married) and pre-marital sex if the couple love on another, and are committed and intend to marry.

Christians believe that adultery is wrong because of the 7th commandment "Do not commit adultery".

Sex before marriage has become more common because:

- Use of contraception

- Legalisation of abortion

- Fewer expectations for partners to be virgins when marrying

- Fewer people follow Christian teachings about sex outside of marriage being a sin

Practise Exam Questions:

Explain the difference between pre-marital sex and extra-marital sex?

Explain why many Christians are opposed to all sex before marriage?

Why is more sex taking place outside of marriage and explain some of the possible consequences?

Explain different attitudes Christians have towards sex outside marriage?

Consequences:

- Increase in the amount of STIs (Sexually transmitted Infections) e.g. herpes, AIDS and gonorrhoea

- Unwanted and unplanned pregnancy

- Thousands of marriages failing due to adultery

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