1. get ready my friends

2. TOPIC ONE

3. KEY WORDS commitment – making promises and keeping them. an example of commitment is getting married, since they make vows to stay together ‘til death do us part’. chastity – the decision not to have sex before marriage. this could be to do with religious reasons. people such as roman catholics believe that sex is only for procreation, and so they believe it should be saved for marriage. conflict – conflict is an argument or disagreement between two or more people. it’s when they work against each other rather than in unison. an example of conflict could be if a married couple have conflict, it could lead to divorce. love – love is a feeling or emotion between two or more people. it means to have a deep affection and express it through words and actions. an example of love could be philia, which is the type of love people have for family/friends, or storge, the type of love people have for objects or pets. reconciliation – this is when there is an apology and make up after an argument/conflict. for example, two friends making up after a fight. many religious communities have reconciliation services to help with conflicts. responsibilities – these are the things you are expected to do. they are duties that you should carry out. for example, a lot of religious communities believe looking after family is a responsibility.

4. ISSUES OF LOVE

5. WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES DO WE HAVE? to not let ourselves down to look after others religious believers have a responsibility to god to obey the law to care for the earth to follow religious teachings

6. WHAT COMMITMENTS DO WE HAVE? religious believers may show their commitment by worship, prayer, and how they live their lives! not to hurt others because we are all created by god (equal) to keep vows and promises we have made to fulfil our duty

7. THE FOUR TYPES OF LOVE EROS – sexual love, such as the love someone would feel towards a partner. AGAPE – love given freely and unreservedly; strong emotion that usually includes commitment. people could have this type of love for god. STORGE -affection for things, objects and animals; sentimentality. PHILIA – bond shown through friends and family.

8. HOW IMPORTANT IS THE FAMILY? it is the duty or dharma to look after the family you choose your friends, not your family friends have an important role in your life in some religions such as judaism, it’s considered a blessing to have a large family the ten command ments state how important it is to look after parents

9. ISSUES OF SEX

10. RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS ON SEX, CELIBACY AND CONTRACEPTION CHRISTIANITY sex is a gift from god contraceptives are accepted as long as both partners agree adultery is forbidden in the ten commandments ROMAN CATHOLICS priests are expected to be celibate artificial contraceptives aren’t acceptable, only natural methods are allowed sex should always allow the possibility of new life JUDAISM sex is seen as one of the three stages of marriage: betrothal/contract/consummation having children is believed to be part of god’s will condoms where the male seed is destroyed are generally disapproved of adultery is forbidden by the ten commandments the halakhah emphasises that a husband should be sexually considerate GENERAL sex begins a special commitment should take place within a committed relationship holy and sacred casual sex is seen as devaluing people adultery is harmful to the special relationship of marriage

11. WHO’S DECISION IS IT WHETHER TO USE CONTRACEPTION? all faiths consider that both partners must agree it depends on the type used some traditions such as judaism disapprove of methods such as the condom many people believe the body belongs to god it could go against religious teachings

12. WHAT IS THE ROLE AND PURPOSE OF SEX? a way of giving oneself totally to another to provide joy and a sense of fulfilment sign of deep personal commitment between a man and a woman a natural instinct of humans is to have children many sacred texts state the importance of procreation

13. ISSUES OF MARRIAGE, COHABITATION AND SAME- SEX RELATIONSHIPS

14. RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS ON MARRIAGE, COHABITATION AND SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS CHRISTIANITY most denominations don’t have a betrothal ceremony marriage is a sacrament within certain denominations such as roman catholicism different types of christians have different views on same-sex marriages anglican church may bless the same- sex couple quakers have accepted same-sex marriage for many years catholics believe marriage is a union only between a man and a woman JUDAISM no specific courtship ceremonies preparation may include lessons with rabbi and fasting liberal usually support same-sex marriages orthodox don’t allow same-sex marriages GENERAL marriage is considered very important diversity of customs which usually reflect the country the wedding is in when civil partnerships are blessed in some places of worship, the ceremony is different from a wedding ceremony

15. RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS ON RELIGIOUS WEDDING CEREMONIES CHRISTIANITY often held in a church, chapel or cathedral church etc is considered god’s house purpose of marriage is stated at the start of the ceremony vows taken to show commitment e.g. “in sickness and in health” exchange of rings to represent never ending love sermon/talk about the importance of marriage hymns to worship god and show religion in the ceremony signing of register to show the couple are married ORTHODOX CHURCHES coronation signifies marriage couple drink three times from the same cup to symbolise their life together ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES everyone present considered a witness wedding sometimes takes place during nupital mass to show sacramental nature JUDAISM often held in a synagogue held under a chuppah to represent their new home or a sign of god’s blessing chuppah has four open sides to show that everybody is welcome blessings of wine symbolises joy and marriage signing of ketubah (contract) stamp on glass to represent destruction of temple and fragility of marriage GENERAL religious weddings conducted by someone of authority in that religion e.g. priest, rabbi, vicar, etc. often follows customs of country usually held in front of family/friends to show importance

16. IS MARRIAGE OUT OF DATE? most people are cohabiting to show commitment different forms of commitment are socially accepted e.g. cohabitation people have trial marriages first religions expect couples to get married vows taken during a marriage can never be out of date

17. IS IT NECESSARY TO MARRY IN A PLACE OF WORSHIP? doesn’t matter where as long as your intentions are right religious believers want a blessing place of worship is considered god’s house in some religions so they believe god is present to bless it some people aren’t allowed to get married in a place of worship

18. SHOULD SAME-SEX COUPLES BE ALLOWED TO MARRY IN PLACES OF WORSHIP? they’re against the teachings of some religions if they both love each other and agree to the vows then why not? most important part of getting married is having children many sacred texts expect you to treat others as you would like to be treated

19. ISSUES OF DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

20. RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS ON DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE CHRISTIANITY ANGLICANS, METHODIST, UNITED REFORM divorce is accepted remarriage is discouraged but if chosen a non-church wedding is preferred no minister can be forced to conduct a remarriage service ROMAN CATHOLIC divorce isn’t recognised marriage is a sacrament and can’t be dissolved unless it’s annulled annulment can happen for cases such as if a partner was forced to marry JUDAISM divorcing couples must obtain both a religious and civil divorce husbands in orthodox judaism have to give their wife a get (document of divorce) or the marriage can’t end remarriage can happen 90 days after the get is received some men refuse to give their wives a divorce (agunot) GENERAL divorce is always regrettable promises/vows have been made and so show a commitment often depends on the situation faith communities try to support the couple in practical and spiritual ways

21. WHY DO SOME MARRIAGES SUCCEED AND OTHERS FAIL? unfaithfulness compromise over problems not taking commitment and responsibilities seriously money worries help from faith communities when there are difficulties in marriage such as prayer fall out of love

22. SHOULD REMARRIAGE BE IN A RELIGIOUS BUILDING? no because they’ve broken sacred vows if the minister agrees and the couple want it then why not? being remarried in a religious building could strengthen faith couple could be blessed in the religious building but not actually married