A short presentation to help my students revise the topic of Marriage and Family Life (C3) for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies. Very simple.

1. C3: MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE
Key Ideas
Thursday, February 5, 2009

2. NOTES
When answering “Explain” questions, always
remember to include your BCG:
B - What does the Bible say?
C - The Catechism or the Creeds
G - The example of God the Son (Jesus)
Thursday, February 5, 2009

3. SEX OUTSIDE MARRIAGE
Pre-marital Sex
Catholics (and most other Christians) believe that sex before marriage is wrong
Bible: fornication is sinful
Church: teaches that premarital sex is wrong
Some Christians accept that couples may live together before marriage
they believe that Church has to come to terms with modern life
Jesus taught that love is the most important thing
Adultery
All Christians think adultery is wrong
It breaks the wedding vows
Ten Commandments: “Do not commit adultery”
Condemned by Jesus in the Gospels
Thursday, February 5, 2009

4. DIVORCE
Catholic attitude: Non-Catholic attitudes:
Does not allow divorce or Allow divorce as ‘the lesser of
remarriage two evils’
Jesus taught divorce is Matthew 19:9 Jesus allowed
wrong divorce for a partner’s
adultery
Couple made covenant with
God in Sacrament of Forgiveness
Marriage
Better to divorce than live in
Church teaching hatred
Does allow annulment
Thursday, February 5, 2009

5. HOMOSEXUALITY
Catholic Attitude
Being homosexual is not a sin: Church teaches that people cannot help sexual orientation
Homosexual sexual relationships are a sin: condemned by Bible; sexual acts should be
procreative as well as unitive; Catechism
Condemns homophobia: everyone made in image of God; identity: child of God
Evangelical Protestant Attitude
Homosexuality is a sin, as are homosexual sexual acts: Bible condemns homosexuality
(Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10)
Salvation in Christ can remove sins, including homosexuality: belief that being born again
in Christ can remove all sins
Liberal Protestant Attitude
Lifelong homosexual are acceptable, but cannot be equal to marriage: Bible needs to be
reinterpreted in the light of modern life
Thursday, February 5, 2009

6. FAMILY LIFE
Family is important because:
basic unit of society
where children learn difference between right and
wrong
where children are introduced to the faith
expected outcome of Christian marriage
Thursday, February 5, 2009

7. CHURCHES HELPING WITH
UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN
Upbringing of children Keeping the family
together
Catholic education
Marriage preparation
classes to prepare for
First Communion, Teachings of the
confirmation and Church: discourages
confession divorce
children’s liturgies Priests help
youth clubs Catholic Marriage Care
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8. KEY WORDS
Thursday, February 5, 2009

9. KEY WORDS
cohabitation remarriage
marriage annulment
adultery homosexuality
pre-marital sex extended family
promiscuity nuclear family
faithfulness reconstituted family
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10. EXAM QUESTIONS
(B) 6 MARKS - MAKE 3 POINTS
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11. Describe how family life has changed in the United Kingdom.
Outline how attitudes to sex and marriage have changed.
Outline how attitudes to divorce have changed.
Outline Christian attitudes to divorce.
Outline different Christian attitudes to homosexuality.
Outline how family life has changed in the UK since the 1960s.
Outline Catholic teachings on family life.
Outline how Catholic churches help with the upbringing of children.
Thursday, February 5, 2009

12. EXAM QUESTIONS
(C) 8 MARKS - MAKE 4 POINTS (PEE)
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13. Explain why most Christians are against sex outside marriage.
Explain how the marriage service shows the purposes of marriage for
Christians.
Explain why there are different attitudes to remarriage in Christianity.
Explain why there are different Christian attitudes to homosexuality.
Explain why family life is important for Catholics.
Explain how churches help to keep the family together.
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14. EXAM QUESTIONS
(D) - 4 MARKS - 2 REASONS FOR, 2 REASONS AGAINST
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15. “Marriage is only a piece of paper, you might just as
well live together.”
“No Christian should ever divorce.”
“A Catholic wedding ceremony helps a marriage to
work.”
“Without religion, family life would collapse.”
“No Christian can be a homosexual.”
Thursday, February 5, 2009