What is the traditional Christian teaching on sex outside marriage?

Traditional teaching says sex belongs only within marriage. Sex before marriage and adultery are seen as sins.

Why do many Christians oppose adultery?

Adultery breaks the marriage vows and is forbidden by the Ten Commandments. Adultery also causes deep hurt to the family.

What does the Catholic Church teach about same-sex sexual relationships?

The Catholic Church teaches that same-sex sexual acts are not in keeping with God's plan for sex. Gay and lesbian people must still be treated with respect and never unjustly discriminated against.

How do liberal Christians view same-sex relationships?

Liberal Christians accept loving, faithful same-sex relationships. Many read the Bible's condemnations as reflecting their own culture rather than God's will today.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

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Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

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Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

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Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemaker Christian peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Christian attitudes to conflict and its causes Christian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther King Christian attitudes to the Just War theory Christian attitudes to Holy War Christian attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Christian responses to violence, war and terrorism

Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Christianity: EqualityPaper 3

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Islam: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Islam Muslim teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the family in Islam How the ummah supports Muslim families Muslim attitudes to contraception Muslim teaching on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Muslim family Muslim teaching on gender prejudice and discrimination

Islam: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Muslim teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Islam Muslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human life Muslim attitudes to abortion Muslim responses to arguments for life after death Muslim responses to arguments against life after death Muslim attitudes to euthanasia Muslim responses to issues in the natural world

Islam: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

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Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Islam: EqualityPaper 3

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Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Buddhism Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Buddhist attitudes to abortion Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife Buddhist responses to arguments against life after death Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights

Buddhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Buddhist attitudes to justice Buddhist attitudes to crime and its causes Buddhist teaching on good, evil and suffering Buddhist attitudes to punishment Buddhism and the aims of punishment Buddhist teaching on forgiveness and restorative justice Buddhist teaching on the treatment of criminals Buddhist attitudes to the death penalty

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Buddhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Topic overview The importance and purpose of Hindu marriage Hindu teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Hindu family and types of family How the Hindu community supports families Hindu attitudes to contraception and family planning Hindu attitudes to divorce and remarriage Hindu teachings on men and women in the family Hindu opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination

Hinduism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life Hindu attitudes to abortion Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Hindu attitudes to euthanasia Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights

Hinduism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Hindu attitudes to justice Hindu attitudes to crime and its causes Hindu teachings on good, evil and suffering Hindu attitudes to punishment: danda and prayascitta Hindu attitudes to the aims of punishment Hindu teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Hindu teachings on the treatment of criminals Hindu attitudes to the death penalty

Hinduism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Hindu attitudes to peace Hindus as peacemakers: ahimsa and Mahatma Gandhi Hindu attitudes to conflict in society Hindu attitudes to pacifism and satyagraha Hindu attitudes to the Just War theory Hindu attitudes to holy war and dharma yuddha Hindu attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Hindu responses to violence, war and terrorism

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Topic overview Revelation in Hindu scripture Hindu attitudes to visions Hindu attitudes to numinous experiences Hindu attitudes to miracles Hindu teaching about prayer and the Gayatri Mantra Hindu teachings on the non-existence of a personal God Hindu attitudes to religious experience as evidence for God Hindu attitudes to religious upbringing

Hinduism: EqualityPaper 3

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Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Judaism Jewish teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Jewish family How the Jewish community supports families Jewish attitudes to contraception and family planning Jewish teachings on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Jewish family Judaism and gender prejudice

Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Judaism, science and the origins of the universe The value of life in the Tenakh Jewish responses to evolution Jewish attitudes to abortion Jewish arguments for life after death Jewish responses to arguments against life after death Jewish attitudes to euthanasia Judaism and the environment

Judaism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Jewish attitudes to justice Jewish attitudes to crime and its causes Jewish teachings on good, evil and suffering Jewish teachings on punishment The aims of punishment in Judaism Jewish teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Jewish teachings on the treatment of criminals Jewish attitudes to the death penalty

Judaism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

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Judaism: Religious ExperiencePaper 3

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Judaism: EqualityPaper 3

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Sikhism: Sikh BeliefsAny paper

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Sikhism: Living the Sikh LifeAny paper

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Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Sikhism Sikh teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the Sikh family How the sangat supports Sikh families Sikh attitudes to contraception Sikh attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Sikh family Sikh opposition to gender prejudice

Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Sikh responses to the origins and value of the universe Sikh teaching on the sanctity of life Sikh responses to evolution Sikh attitudes to abortion Sikh responses to arguments for life after death Sikh responses to arguments against life after death Sikh attitudes to euthanasia Sikh responses to the natural world and animal rights

Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh attitudes to justice Sikh attitudes to crime and the Five Thieves Sikh teaching on good, evil and suffering Sikh attitudes to punishment Sikh views on the aims of punishment Sikh teaching on forgiveness Sikh teaching on the treatment of criminals Sikh attitudes to the death penalty

Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh teaching on peace Sikhs and peacemaking Sikh attitudes to conflict Sikh attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Dharam Yudh: the Sikh Just War The saint-soldier and Sikh views on holy war Sikh attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Sikh responses to violence, war and terrorism

Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Gurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the river Visions and mystical experiences in Sikhism Numinous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in Sikhism Miracles and Sikh belief Sikh attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Sikh belief The cosmological argument and Sikh belief A Sikh upbringing and belief in God

Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Christianity: Marriage and the Family

Christian teachings on sexual relationships

3 things to know
Paper 1

Overview

The purpose of sex, 1 Corinthians 6 on the body, sex outside marriage and adultery, Catholic and liberal views of same-sex relationships, the Church of England's 2023 decision, and Humanist views.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What do Humanists believe about sex outside marriage and same-sex relationships?

Key term

What do Christians teach about the purpose of sex?

Key term

What does 1 Corinthians 6 teach about the body?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What do Christians teach about the purpose of sex?
Model answer
Christians teach that sex is a gift from God that unites a couple and can create new life. Sex expresses total self-giving between partners.
2
What does 1 Corinthians 6 teach about the body?
Model answer
Paul teaches that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Christians should honour God with their bodies and flee sexual immorality.
3
What is the traditional Christian teaching on sex outside marriage?
Model answer
Traditional teaching says sex belongs only within marriage. Sex before marriage and adultery are seen as sins.
4
Why do many Christians oppose adultery?
Model answer
Adultery breaks the marriage vows and is forbidden by the Ten Commandments. Adultery also causes deep hurt to the family.
5
What does the Catholic Church teach about same-sex sexual relationships?
Model answer
The Catholic Church teaches that same-sex sexual acts are not in keeping with God's plan for sex. Gay and lesbian people must still be treated with respect and never unjustly discriminated against.
6
How do liberal Christians view same-sex relationships?
Model answer
Liberal Christians accept loving, faithful same-sex relationships. Many read the Bible's condemnations as reflecting their own culture rather than God's will today.

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