Marriage (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Notes
Marriage in Catholic Christianity
What is marriage in Catholic teaching?
Within Catholic Christianity, marriage holds a position of great significance as it represents far more than just a legal contract between two people. Catholics understand marriage to be one of the seven sacraments - a sacred ritual that brings believers closer to God and marks an important spiritual milestone in their lives.
The seven sacraments in Catholic Christianity are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage. Each sacrament is believed to confer God's grace upon the recipient.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage creates a lifelong union between a man and a woman, established in the presence of God and the wider Christian community. This understanding goes beyond simply living together or having a romantic relationship - it involves making solemn promises before God that are intended to last for the entirety of both partners' lives.
Catholics believe that this sacred relationship was designed by God himself as part of his plan for humanity. The idea is that through marriage, two separate individuals become united in such a profound way that they are considered to be "one flesh" - a concept that emphasises the deep spiritual and physical bond that marriage creates.
Biblical foundations of Catholic marriage
The Catholic understanding of marriage is deeply rooted in scripture, particularly the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Mark:
"What God has joined together, let no one separate." (Mark 10:9)
This verse forms a cornerstone of Catholic teaching on marriage, emphasising that the union created through marriage is not merely a human arrangement but something established by God himself. According to this teaching, the bond created through marriage is so sacred that it should not be broken by human intervention.
Official Church Teaching on Marriage
The Catechism of the Catholic Church further explains this understanding:
"The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws ... God himself is the author of marriage." (CCC 1603)
This official teaching emphasises that marriage creates an intimate partnership that encompasses all aspects of life - emotional, spiritual, and physical.
Core Catholic beliefs about marriage
Catholic teaching presents several key principles that define their understanding of marriage:
The Four Pillars of Catholic Marriage
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Divine Design: God specifically created male and female human beings with the intention that they would unite through marriage to become "one flesh" through the sacrament of marriage.
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Purpose for Family: Marriage serves as a secure and stable environment where children can be born and raised within the Catholic faith.
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Permanence: Marriage establishes a permanent, faithful and stable relationship between husband and wife.
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Sacred Beauty: Marriage is celebrated as something that brings joy and fulfilment to those who enter into it.
First, Catholics believe that God specifically created male and female human beings with the intention that they would unite through marriage to become "one flesh" through the sacrament of marriage. This reflects the belief that marriage is part of God's original design for human relationships and is fundamental to his plan for creation.
Second, the Church emphasises that marriage serves as a secure and stable environment where children can be born and raised within the Catholic faith. This connects marriage to the broader purpose of building and strengthening the Catholic community across generations.
Third, Catholic teaching presents marriage as establishing a permanent, faithful and stable relationship between husband and wife. This permanence is seen as providing stability not just for the couple themselves, but for any children they may have and for society as a whole.
Finally, Pope Francis has spoken about marriage in particularly positive terms, describing it as "not just good, but beautiful" during discussions with religious leaders and scholars. This reflects the Church's view that marriage should be celebrated and valued as something that brings joy and fulfilment to those who enter into it.
Catholic Position on Cohabitation
An important aspect of Catholic teaching is the rejection of cohabitation - living together without being married. Catholics maintain that marriage is intended to be sacred and holy because it receives God's blessing, and they would not accept unmarried couples living together even in today's society where this has become more common.
Marriage's role in society
From a Catholic perspective, marriage serves several crucial functions within the broader community and society. The Church teaches that marriage provides essential stability within society by creating committed partnerships where two people promise to support each other through all of life's challenges.
Marriage also serves as a public demonstration of love and commitment. When couples marry, they are not only making promises to each other but also declaring their dedication publicly, which Catholics believe strengthens the bonds of community and provides positive examples for others.
Marriage as a Foundation for Society
Perhaps most importantly, Catholic teaching emphasises that marriage provides a stable foundation for raising children. The Church believes that married couples are better positioned to build their family around the marriage structure, creating a secure environment where children can grow and develop.
This stability is seen as beneficial not just for individual families, but for strengthening society as children raised in stable family units are more likely to contribute positively to their communities.
Other Christian perspectives
While Catholic teaching presents a very specific view of marriage, it's important to recognise that other Christian denominations may have somewhat different approaches to this topic. Although most Christians agree that marriage should ideally be a lifelong commitment, some Christian churches now accept that marriages can sometimes fail despite the best intentions of both partners.
Denominational Differences on Marriage
These denominations have come to recognise divorce as sometimes necessary and accept the possibility of remarriage following divorce. This represents a more flexible approach than traditional Catholic teaching, acknowledging the reality that human relationships can sometimes break down irreparably.
Additionally, not all Christians feel called to marry. Some may choose to remain single for various reasons, and there may be alternative perspectives within Christianity about the importance or necessity of marriage for all believers.
Non-religious attitudes to marriage
People who do not hold religious beliefs often have quite different perspectives on marriage. Humanists, for example, do not view marriage as a religious institution blessed by God. Instead, they understand marriage in secular terms - as a legal and social arrangement where two people make a commitment to each other.
Humanist Perspective on Marriage
While humanists may not see marriage as having divine significance, many do accept and value it as a meaningful way for couples to formalise their relationship and demonstrate their commitment to one another. For humanists, a civil ceremony would be sufficient, as they do not require religious blessing or approval.
Other non-religious individuals may have even more varied views on marriage. Some may question whether marriage is necessary at all, preferring simply to cohabit with their partner without formal legal arrangements. Others might view traditional weddings as unnecessarily expensive or complicated, preferring simpler alternatives to demonstrate their commitment.
These diverse perspectives reflect the reality that in modern society, people from different backgrounds and belief systems approach marriage with varying expectations and requirements.
Key Points to Remember:
- Marriage is one of the seven sacraments in Catholic Christianity, representing a sacred bond designed by God between a man and woman
- The biblical foundation comes from Mark 10:9 - "What God has joined together, let no one separate" - emphasising the permanent nature of marriage
- Catholics believe marriage provides stability for society, a secure environment for raising children, and demonstrates public commitment between partners
- Other Christian denominations may accept divorce and remarriage, recognising that marriages can sometimes fail
- Non-religious perspectives view marriage as a secular commitment rather than a divine institution, with humanists accepting civil ceremonies while others may question the need for formal marriage altogether