Marriage, Family Structures and Gender Roles
Artificial contraception includes methods like condoms, the pill, or devices like coils. The Catholic Church insists all sexual acts in marriage must be open to procreation (having children), whilst the Church of England supports contraception for family planning. This links back to Genesis where God tells Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply."
Marriage involves religious and legal ceremonies with vows to stay together "till death do us part." Divorce, whilst legal in the UK, divides Christian denominations. Catholics don't support divorce or remarriage in church, whereas the Church of England accepts divorce but requires special permission for church remarriage.
Modern families serve three main purposes: procreation, providing stability, and passing on faith. Family structures vary from nuclear families (two adults with children) to extended families including grandparents and relatives. Same-sex parents and polygamy (multiple spouses) represent other family models.
Gender equality remains an ongoing issue. In the UK, women still face prejudice and discrimination. The Catholic Church maintains traditional gender roles, refusing women priests, whilst the Church of England has allowed female priests since 1994.
Key Point: These family structures and gender roles are constantly evolving - what matters is understanding both traditional religious views and modern secular perspectives.