To use picture clues, a media clip and quotes to understand the different Christian attitudes to infertility treatments.

Grade C All will be able to select Christian arguments both for and against fertility treatments and sort Biblical quotes relating to this issue. Grade B Most will be able to explain how some Christian couple may respond to not being able to have children and the meaning of Biblical quotes relating to infertility. Grade A/A* Some will be able to give an opinion on Christian attitudes to infertility treatments. Grade C All will be able to select Christian arguments both for and against fertility treatments and sort Biblical quotes relating to this issue. Grade B Most will be able to explain how some Christian couple may respond to not being able to have children and the meaning of Biblical quotes relating to infertility. Grade A/A* Some will be able to give an opinion on Christian attitudes to infertility treatments.

Look carefully at the title of this book... Why do you think some Christians are ashamed that they cannot naturally have children?

“....be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth...” What did God command human beings to do? Why might this cause problems for infertile Christians? What did God command human beings to do? Why might this cause problems for infertile Christians? So many Christians believe it is their religious duty to start a family. For many the sole purpose of sex is to reproduce and fulfil God’s commandment. Christians who find themselves unable to have children often feel ashamed and disappointed as they are unable to fulfil this commandment.

Imagine Monica and Chandler are a Christian couple who have just received this news... Explain how they may respond and why. What might they do next and why? Imagine Monica and Chandler are a Christian couple who have just received this news... Explain how they may respond and why. What might they do next and why?

So Christian couples may respond in a variety of ways... - Some may accept that it is God’s choice for them not to have children – it is part of His plan. -Some may find other ways to direct their parental skills, such as school, charity work and church work. -Some may choose to adopt, giving unwanted and orphaned children a loving home -Some may choose to conceive a child through fertility treatment. So Christian couples may respond in a variety of ways... - Some may accept that it is God’s choice for them not to have children – it is part of His plan. -Some may find other ways to direct their parental skills, such as school, charity work and church work. -Some may choose to adopt, giving unwanted and orphaned children a loving home -Some may choose to conceive a child through fertility treatment. WRONG DISAGREE! This last response relating to fertility treatments causes conflict amongst Christians – Some AGREE with them while others believe they are WRONG and completely DISAGREE!

Grade B Most will be able to explain how some Christian couples may respond to not being able to have children. Grade B Most will be able to explain how some Christian couples may respond to not being able to have children.

Christian responses to infertility treatments fall into 3 categories.... Very few Christians would say that people should NOT have ANY form of infertility treatment. WHY? Some Christians accept the use of medicine and surgery. They do not accept assisted fertility. Some Christians accept any sort of infertility treatment. WHY? What do YOU think? Can you give a reason WHY for each of these views ? Think about what you have learnt already and what you know about Christians and their beliefs. Write a response for each (in turn) on your mini whiteboards.

FOR – Most fertility treatments are acceptable. Attitude of the Roman Catholic Church...Attitude of the Church of England... Sort the arguments in the middle of your sheet into the correct column. What type of fertility treatment would each allow? Use your sheet from last lesson to help you. What type of fertility treatment would each allow? Use your sheet from last lesson to help you. AGAINST – Assisted reproduction treatment is not acceptable (only medicine and surgery is acceptable).

Grade C All will be able to select Christian arguments both for and against fertility treatments Grade C All will be able to select Christian arguments both for and against fertility treatments

Read the Biblical quotes you have been given. Decide if they are FOR or AGAINST the use of infertility treatments. Can you give a reason WHY you have categorised them either FOR or AGAINST?

Even though some Christians agree with some fertility treatments for many it would still depend upon the situation of the couple as to whether they believed it to be RIGHT. How do you think a Christian would respond to the following?... 1.A same-sex couple wanting to use fertility treatments to start a family. 2.A married couple wanting to use fertility treatments to have more children. 3.An unmarried couple wanting to use fertility treatments to start a family. RIGHT or WRONG?

Do you agree? Is it WRONG for Christians to seek medical treatment if they are infertile? Complete Page 71 of your revision workbook. “Techniques which call someone other than the husband and wife to be involved in the making of a child is very wrong. Techniques which separate sex from the making of a baby are unacceptable” (The Catholic Church) Swap with a partner and mark each others work in GREEN PEN The type of question (a,b,c,d) and the marks for each question (2,4,8,6) are in brackets at the side. Please comment – giving a POSITIVE and a TARGET

Grade A/A* Some will be able to give an opinion on Christian attitudes to infertility treatments. Grade A/A* Some will be able to give an opinion on Christian attitudes to infertility treatments.

One thing I have learnt today is... One thing that has surprised me this lesson is... One thing I would like to know more about is...