Christianity: Importance & Purpose of Marriage (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

Significance of Marriage in Christian Life

Significance of Marriage in Christianity

• Most Christians believe marriage is a significant part of life

• It is a gift from God and part of God’s plan for creation

• Christians believe that God intended men and women to live together as married couples but not to live together outside marriage

• Christians believe that marriage is a covenant before God

• The marriage will take place with family and friends who act as witnesses, and therefore shows the commitment they have for each other

• Jesus emphasised the importance of marriage

  • He taught that it is to be a monogamous relationship and is for life

• Roman Catholics believe that marriage is a sacrament 

  • This is why a Catholic marriage can never be ‘broken’ in the eyes of the Church because once God has given his blessing He cannot take it away

• All Christians believe that the marriage vows are sacred and form a binding contract and are intended for life

  • However, Protestants believe that because the marriage vows are a covenant it is possible for them to be broken, therefore divorce is possible

The Purpose of Marriage in Christianity

• Christians believe that there is are many reasons why marriage is a good thing for couples

  • It allows people to unite with someone they love for the rest of their lives

    • Many Christians believe that marriage is a commitment for couples to love and support each other and share in the care and upbringing of children

• To be faithful and make this sacrament  with God’s blessing and in God’s presence

• To procreate so that children can also be part of the Christian faith

  • In Genesis, God tells a man to be with his wife and as a couple to have children: ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ (Genesis 1:28)

  • Many Christians understand this verse to be a command to leave their parents, get married and then have children, in that order

• Marriage is also a way of regulating sexual behaviour and prevents promiscuity

• Marriage also provides a permanent and stable environment for raising children and to bring them up in the Christian faith which may include: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation and reading the Bible

Divergent & Non-Religious Views on Marriage

Non-religious views on marriage

• Throughout the last century attitudes to marriage have changed and the number of people getting married has decreased

• It is now socially quite acceptable for couples to live together without being married There are a number of reasons for this, including a decline in religious influence and the changing status and the role of women 

• This has led to marriage no longer being seen as the norm and an increase in cohabiting couples

• Some people argue that marriage does not guarantee a happy relationship or a better society

Humanist views on marriage

• Humanists believe that society should not be based upon religious ideas and instead humans have the right and responsibility to make their own decisions

• Humanists believe sex and marriage are matters for the individual decisions

• It is up to individuals whether they live together without marrying or get married in a civil ceremony

• However, humanists expect sexual relationships to be based on respect and trust

• They believe the relationship should be exclusive and many believe marriage is a good thing when raising a family because it provides:

  • A stable environment both legally and financially

  • More social acceptance of the relationship

  • More stable home for the family 

• Humanists will often have a humanist or civil wedding ceremony that provides an opportunity for a public declaration of commitment but there are no religious elements to the ceremony

Christian Responses to Divergent & Non-Religious Views

Christian Responses to Non-Religious Views on Marriage

• The Roman Catholic Church condemns the non religious attitudes to marriage and insists Christians should refrain from having sex until they have a Christian marriage

• Liberal Protestants accept couples living together before marriage, but expect couples to marry before starting a family

  • They will only accept sex to be between a couple committed to a long term relationship: ‘recognising that for many, this is a step along the way to the fuller commitment of marriage’ (Church of England Report 1997)

  • Other Christians believe that marriage is an option but is not compulsory and that cohabitation is acceptable providing the couple are committed to each other