Cival Partnerships contraception; purpose of marriage
(a) Give two Christian beliefs about why civil partnerships are wrong. (2 marks)
(b) Describe the roles of men and women in a Christian family. (5 marks)
(c) Explain Christian beliefs about contraception. (8 marks)
(d) The main purpose of a Christian marriage is to have children.'
Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.
Contraception; sexual relationships; marriage
(a) Give two Christian ideas about the use of contraception. (2 marks)
(b) Describe Christian beliefs about sexual relationships. (5 marks)
(c) Explain how a wedding ceremony reflects the Christian beliefs about marriage. (8 marks)
(d) ‘Every Christian should get married’.
Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed in this question. (15 marks)
Divorce re-marriage; roles of men and women; bringing up Children
(a) Give two Christian ideas about why divorce should not happen. (2 marks)
(b) Describe Christian attitudes about re-marriage. (5 marks)
(c) Explain Christian attitudes to the roles of men and women within the Christian family. (8 marks)
(d) ‘Only women should be responsible for bringing up the children’.
Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed in this question. (15 marks)
Marriage; sexual relationships Christian Wedding; divorce
(a) Give two Christian ideas about sexual relationships. (2 marks)
(b) Describe the events in a Christian wedding ceremony. (5 marks)
(c) Explain Christian beliefs about marriage. (8 marks)
(d) ‘Divorce should never be allowed’.
Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. Spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed in this question. (15 marks)
Remarriage; roles of men and women Christian wedding Sex outside marriage
(a) Give two Christian ideas about why re-marriage is considered to be wrong. (2 marks)
(b) Describe the roles of men and women in the Church family. (5 marks)
(c) Explain how a Christian wedding ceremony can help a married couple in their marriage. (8 marks)
Spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed in this question. (15 marks)
Contraception; marriage; Divorce; Same Sex Relationships.
(a) what is meant by the term contraception (2 marks)
(b) Describe how Christian beliefs in marriage are shown in the marriage ceremony (5 marks)
Contraception; marriage; Divorce; Same Sex Relationships.
(a) what is meant by the term (2 marks)
(c) From two different religions or two religious traditions, explain (8 marks)
Component 1 Religious, philosophical and ethical themes in the modern world
Theme 1: Issues of relationships
Exam practice, p.4
B-type question: ‘Describe ways in which families are important in a faith community.’
Model answer: (This is one way to answer but many different answers are creditworthy. What is important is the answer meets the band descriptors found on pp.153–158.)
Faith communities all regard family as the most important foundation of society, and as such believe in the need to create strong nuclear and extended families. Family life is also the place where religious belief, practices and teachings are lived out, e.g. keeping Shabbat, fasting in Ramadan, praying together. It is where important religious festivals are celebrated together.
Exam practice, p.7 A-type question: ‘What does “cohabitation” mean?’
Question requires selecting one of the three given answers in the exam practice box which is worthy of full marks.
The best answer is: ‘Living together in the same house and having sex but not being married.’ (This answer is worthy of 2 marks as it gives ‘an accurate and appropriate account of the concept’.) The first answer is incomplete; and the second is a different use of the word ‘cohabit’.
Exam practice, p.11 D-type question: ‘Sex outside marriage is always wrong.’ Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
Model answer: (This is just one way to answer and reflects the mark scheme for a Band 5 – detailed analysis; use of religious language; use of sources of wisdom; and shows an understanding of how beliefs influence individuals, communities and societies. Refer to the descriptors found on pp.153–158.)
For many religious people, sex should only take place within marriage, and in the Ten Commandments, and the Qur’an, adultery is forbidden. Whether sex outside of marriage is wrong may depend on the different circumstances understood by some people: for some it means living together as part of their relationship; for others it means having sex with other partners while they are married. For many Christians and Jews sex is seen as holy and sacred, a gift from God. To some Muslims sex is considered an act of worship. It is for these kinds of reasons that many believers would say that ‘sex outside of marriage is always wrong’ and that fidelity in marriage is to be valued.
There are many Christians, Jews and Muslims that see marriage as the basis of family life. They would describe marriage as: God-given; the best basis for creating an environment into which children should be born; a lifelong commitment. An important argument is that some Christians regard marriage as a sacrament, and the Christian marriage service reflects this by using the phrase ‘what God has joined together, let no one separate’. The marriage vows promise sexual faithfulness, and sex outside of marriage is likely to undermine the status of the marriage. This is important as when married couples say these words they are making a vow or a promise.
However, there have been many changes in society, and having sexual relationships before marriage is socially acceptable. Some religious traditions, such as liberal groups within the Anglican Church, allow sex before marriage if the relationship is stable and the couple intend to marry. Nevertheless, more conservative or evangelical groups within the Anglican Church take a different view of this matter. Many religious and non-religious traditions would argue that sex can also be meaningful and show enjoyment, love and commitment outside of marriage.
Exam practice, p.13
D-type question: ‘Sex outside marriage is always wrong.’ Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
Model answer: (This is just one way to answer and reflects the mark scheme for a Band 5 – detailed analysis; use of religious language; use of sources of wisdom; and shows an understanding of how beliefs influence individuals, communities and societies. Refer to the descriptors found on pp.153–158.)
• Sex should be part of a committed marital relationship. For many religious people, sexual relationships should only take place within marriage. For many Christians and many Jews, the Ten Commandments specifically prohibit sex outside of marriage. Sex is seen as holy and sacred, a gift from God. To some Muslims sex is considered an act of worship. It is for these kinds of reasons that many believers would say that ‘sex outside of marriage is always wrong’ and that fidelity in marriage is to be valued.
• Adultery is condemned by a number of religious traditions. The teachings of Christianity, Islam and Judaism all show adultery as a great sin. For many Christians, adultery is a breaking of the marriage vows, which promise sexual faithfulness. The Ten Commandments specifically prohibit adultery, and in the Qur’an it states that adultery is a shameful thing, opening the way to other evils.
• Adultery can cause distress in a family. For many religious believers adultery is seen as spoiling the special relationship between a married couple. For some Muslims adultery is considered going against the unity and peace of the ummah. It is almost inevitable that as a result of adultery the relationships within the family unit are harmed, and that can lead to tensions and distress for all members of the family.
• Sex outside of marriage can show a lack of commitment. Most religious marriage ceremonies contain some kind of vows or promises that there will be faithfulness within the marriage. The teachings of Christianity, Judaism and Islam all regard marriage as the place for sexual relationships. They also regard marriage as the taking on of a commitment, and the Christian vows, which often end with the words ‘and this is my solemn vow’, indicate that the couple are taking on a serious commitment. Having sex with someone else is therefore devaluing that original commitment.