Relationships and Families: Sex, Marriage and Divorce

Human sexuality encompasses the full range of sexual orientations and relationships. For the exam you need to understand what different religions and non-religious perspectives teach, and why they teach it.

Heterosexual relationships — attraction between people of different sexes — are affirmed by all major world religions as the norm for sexual activity within marriage. The reasons given vary: some traditions cite creation accounts (man and woman made for each other), others natural law (the reproductive purpose of sex), others covenant theology (marriage as an image of God's relationship with humanity).

Same-sex relationships — attraction and relationships between people of the same sex — are treated very differently across traditions and within them:

Perspective	View of same-sex relationships
Traditional Catholic Christianity	Intrinsically disordered; same-sex sexual activity is sinful; same-sex attraction is not sinful in itself
Conservative Protestant Christianity	Condemned by scripture (Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10); sex belongs only in heterosexual marriage
Liberal/Progressive Christianity	Affirming; emphasises love, dignity, and inclusion; many denominations now bless or conduct same-sex marriages
Islam	Same-sex sexual activity is forbidden (haram); scholars cite Qur'an 7:80–84 (the story of Lot)
Humanist/Non-religious	Sexuality is morally neutral; consensual relationships between adults should be respected regardless of gender

The key contrast for exam purposes: traditional religious views often ground their position in scripture or natural law, while progressive religious and non-religious views ground theirs in human dignity and the value of committed love.

Religious traditions have historically taught that sexual relationships belong within marriage. The reasons and the strictness of this position vary:

Christian views on sex before marriage (pre-marital sex):

• Traditional view: Sexual intercourse is reserved for marriage. 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 ("Flee from sexual immorality… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit") is cited. Premarital sex is considered sinful because it violates the sacred bond that sex is meant to create.
• Liberal view: Some Christians accept sexual relationships in committed, faithful relationships outside formal marriage, prioritising the quality of the relationship over its legal status.

Islamic view: Sex outside of marriage (including pre-marital sex) is zina — strictly forbidden. The Qur'an (24:2) prescribes punishment for adultery. This applies equally to men and women. The purpose is to protect family structure and social order.

Sex outside marriage (adultery): Across traditions, adultery (sex with someone other than one's spouse while married) is condemned more severely than pre-marital sex. It breaches a sacred covenant. Jewish law includes a commandment against it (Exodus 20:14).

Non-religious view: Many humanists argue that the ethics of sexual relationships depend on consent, honesty, and mutual respect rather than marital status. Relationships that fulfil these criteria can be moral whether or not they are formalised.

Key exam contrast: For the 12-mark question, you need contrasting Christian views AND at least one other religion. Use traditional Catholic/conservative Protestant vs liberal Christian, and Islam as the second religion.

This is one of the three issues requiring contrasting beliefs (Christianity + one other religion) for the 12-mark question.

What is contraception? Methods that prevent pregnancy. These range from barrier methods (condoms) and hormonal contraception (the pill) to permanent sterilisation. Family planning refers to the deliberate decision about when, whether, and how many children to have.

Perspective	Teaching
Catholic Christianity	Artificial contraception is forbidden (Humanae Vitae, 1968). Sex must be open to the possibility of new life — separating the unitive and procreative dimensions of sex is morally wrong. Only natural family planning (NFP, monitoring fertility cycles) is permitted
Protestant Christianity	Most Protestant denominations accept contraception as responsible family planning. The decision is left to the conscience of the couple; children are a blessing but not obligatory
Islam	Contraception is generally permitted within marriage if both spouses consent. It is to be used for genuine reasons (health, spacing children) rather than to avoid children entirely; permanent sterilisation is more controversial
Humanist/Non-religious	Contraception is a responsible choice enabling people to have children when they are ready; it supports women's autonomy and reduces poverty

Ethical arguments:

• Against contraception: Natural law theory (sex has a natural purpose of reproduction that should not be frustrated); slippery slope concerns about sexual permissiveness.
• For contraception: Autonomy and wellbeing of existing children; global overpopulation concerns; women's health and equality.

Marriage is a legally and socially recognised union. Its significance varies across religious traditions, but several shared purposes emerge:

Christian view: Marriage is a sacred covenant and sacrament (in Catholic tradition). Its purposes are: (1) companionship and mutual support — "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18); (2) sexual union — the physical expression of the marriage bond; (3) procreation — having and raising children.

Marriage vows in Christianity are typically lifelong: "till death do us part." The Catholic Church regards marriage as one of seven sacraments — a visible sign of God's grace.

Islamic view: Marriage (nikah) is a legal contract and a religious duty. The Prophet Muhammad said: "Marriage is my tradition; whosoever keeps away from it is not from me" (Hadith). Purposes include: companionship, lawful sexual relationship, having children, and social stability. Both parties must consent freely.

Shared themes across religions:

Purpose	Why it matters
Companionship	Partnership and mutual support throughout life
Legalised sexual relationship	Sex within a stable, committed, exclusive bond
Procreation	Having children and raising them within a family
Social stability	A foundation for wider community and society

Same-sex marriage: Most traditional religious bodies reject same-sex marriage, arguing that marriage is by definition between a man and a woman. Liberal Christian denominations (e.g. the United Reformed Church, Quakers) conduct same-sex marriages; the Church of England (as of 2023) permits clergy to bless civil same-sex marriages and partnerships. Cohabitation (living together without marriage) is accepted by many couples today; most traditional religious views regard it as less desirable than marriage, though not always as sinful.

Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage. Common reasons include: breakdown of trust, domestic abuse, incompatibility, or adultery.

Christian views on divorce:

Tradition	View
Catholic Church	Divorce is not recognised; a marriage properly contracted cannot be dissolved. An annulment (a declaration that a valid marriage never existed) may be granted in specific circumstances
Church of England	Divorce is permitted as a last resort; the Church has relaxed its position over time and now permits remarriage in church in some cases at the vicar's discretion
Methodist/Protestant	Divorce is permitted and remarriage is accepted; compassion for those in broken marriages outweighs the ideal of lifelong union

Islamic view: Divorce (talaq) is permitted but "the most disliked of permissible things before God" (Hadith, Abu Dawud). Men may pronounce talaq three times (with a waiting period between each), giving opportunities for reconciliation. Women may seek divorce through khul' (returning the bride gift). Reconciliation is encouraged at every stage.

Ethical arguments:

• Against divorce: The sanctity of marriage vows ("what God has joined together, let no one separate" — Mark 10:9); divorce harms children; weakens society's foundation.
• For permitting divorce: Compassion — keeping people trapped in abusive or destructive marriages causes greater harm than the ideal of permanence; human dignity matters more than legal form; some argue the spirit of the marriage vow is already broken before the legal divorce.

Remarrying after divorce: Most Protestant denominations accept remarriage. The Catholic Church does not recognise remarriage after divorce (unless an annulment was granted). Islam permits remarriage after divorce.

The 12-mark question is worth one third of this paper's marks. It is structured as an evaluation of a statement with contrasting views.

For Theme A, the 12-mark must include:

1. A contrasting Christian view (e.g. traditional vs liberal)
2. A contrasting view from at least one other religion (e.g. Islam)
3. Non-religious perspectives are helpful but not mandatory for full marks
4. A justified personal conclusion that flows from the arguments

Structure example for "Divorce should never be allowed":

• Point 1: Traditional Catholic view — the marriage covenant is indissoluble; quote Mark 10:9
• Point 2: Contrasting Protestant/Methodist view — compassion for the suffering of those in broken marriages; quote the principle of love of neighbour
• Point 3: Islamic view — divorce is permitted but discouraged; reconciliation is the first goal
• Conclusion: Weigh the competing values — sanctity of vows vs human wellbeing — and give your own justified view

SPaG is not marked in Component 2 Theme questions. However, clear paragraphs still improve the quality and flow of your argument.

1. Giving only one Christian view

Many students write only the Catholic or only the Protestant view. The 12-mark question requires contrasting views — you need at least two different positions. Within Christianity, the contrast between Catholic annulment-only and Protestant compassion-based acceptance of divorce is a strong answer.

2. Confusing annulment with divorce

A Catholic annulment is a declaration that a valid marriage never existed — not a dissolution of a valid marriage. Calling annulment "the Catholic form of divorce" is factually wrong and will lose marks.

3. Forgetting the non-religious perspective

For the full range of views, include a brief humanist or secular view. Humanists typically argue that consensual adult relationships — including same-sex relationships, pre-marital sex, and cohabitation — are ethical when based on love and respect.

4. Misidentifying contraception as the Catholic's only concern

The Catholic Church's position is not only "no contraception" — it is a broader natural law argument about the nature of the sexual act. Understanding the reasoning (unitive and procreative purposes must not be separated) produces a much stronger answer than simply stating the conclusion.

5. Writing a conclusion that doesn't follow from your argument

The justified conclusion must logically connect to the points you have made. Do not simply state "I think both sides have good points." Choose a position and explain why the evidence and reasoning you presented leads to it.