Religious Studies: Exploring Relationships and Families (Paper 2)

Human Sexuality and Relationships

Human sexuality is simply how people express themselves as sexual beings. You'll need to understand that people can be heterosexual (attracted to the opposite sex) or homosexual (attracted to the same sex). Some believe sexuality is fixed whilst others see it as fluid and changeable over time.

Sex before marriage and sex outside marriage (adultery) are important concepts that different religions view differently. The Bible explicitly states "You shall not commit adultery," showing how seriously this is taken. Contraception and family planning allow couples to decide when to have children, though religious groups have varying opinions on these practices.

Different relationship structures exist in modern society. Marriage creates a lifelong legal bond, whilst cohabitation involves living together without marriage. When marriages end, divorce legally cancels the union, and remarriage may follow. Religious views on sexuality vary significantly - whilst Roman Catholics view homosexual relationships as disordered, liberal Christians emphasise Jesus's message of love and acceptance.

Remember: You don't need to agree with these religious views, but understanding them is essential for your exams and for appreciating different perspectives in society.

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.