Marriage (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Notes
Marriage in Christianity
Introduction to marriage
Marriage holds significant importance within Christianity as a major life milestone and religious observance. Christians traditionally understand marriage as a union exclusively between one man and one woman. This relationship is viewed as the appropriate and blessed framework for intimate relationships and raising children within the faith.
The Christian perspective on marriage differs significantly from secular viewpoints, as it incorporates both spiritual and practical dimensions that shape how believers approach this life commitment.
Biblical foundations of marriage
The Christian understanding of marriage is rooted in biblical teaching, particularly found in the creation accounts. The Bible establishes that marriage should involve one man and one woman in a lifelong partnership.
A key biblical passage that Christians refer to is found in Mark's Gospel:
"But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Mark 10:6-9)
This passage demonstrates that Christians believe marriage was established by God from the very beginning of creation. The concept of becoming one flesh emphasises the deep spiritual and physical unity that marriage creates between husband and wife. The final instruction that no one should separate what God has joined highlights the permanent nature of the marriage bond in Christian teaching.
The permanence of marriage is a fundamental Christian principle. The phrase "let no one separate" is often cited to emphasise that marriage is intended to be a lifelong commitment that cannot be easily dissolved.
The Christian purposes of marriage
Christianity identifies three primary purposes that marriage serves in God's plan for humanity:
Companionship and mutual support form the first purpose of marriage. Christians believe that God designed marriage to provide friendship, emotional support, and partnership between husband and wife. This reflects the biblical principle that it is not good for man to be alone, showing that humans are created for relationship and community.
Sexual intimacy and procreation represent the second purpose. Christian teaching holds that sexual relationships are a gift from God that should be expressed within the security and commitment of marriage. This context also provides the proper environment for having and raising children as part of God's plan for families.
Lifelong commitment and social stability constitute the third purpose. Marriage creates a permanent and stable relationship that benefits not only the couple but also society as a whole. This stability provides security for any children and demonstrates positive moral and social values to the community.
These three purposes work together to create what Christians believe is God's complete design for marriage - addressing human needs for companionship, appropriate sexual expression, and stable family structures.
Christian beliefs about marriage
Christians hold several core beliefs about the nature and significance of marriage:
Marriage as a sacrament is central to many Christian denominations. This means marriage is viewed as a sacred ceremony where God is actively involved and present. When couples exchange vows, they make promises not only to each other but also to God, making their commitment both horizontal (between spouses) and vertical (with God). This sacred dimension sets Christian marriage apart from purely civil ceremonies.
Marriage as God's gift reflects the belief that the institution of marriage is part of God's divine plan for human relationships. Rather than being merely a human invention or social convention, Christians see marriage as something God designed and blessed for the benefit of men and women.
Providing security for children represents another important Christian perspective on marriage. The stable, committed relationship of married parents creates the ideal environment for raising children in the Christian faith. This security helps children develop properly and learn Christian values within a loving family structure.
Recognition that marriage isn't for everyone shows that whilst marriage is highly valued, some Christians acknowledge that not every person is called to married life. Drawing on the example of Jesus, who never married, and other biblical figures, some Christians believe they have received a special calling or vocation from God to remain single and serve in other ways, such as becoming monks or nuns.
The concept of marriage as a sacrament means that for many Christians, the ceremony is not just a legal contract but a spiritual event where God's blessing is invoked and received.
Non-religious attitudes to marriage
People who don't follow religious beliefs approach marriage quite differently from Christians. Humanists, for example, don't incorporate religious elements into their worldview but instead rely on human reason and experience to guide their decisions.
Humanists don't view marriage as a religious institution blessed by God. Instead, they understand marriage in purely secular terms - as a commitment between two people who choose to build a life together. For humanists, the significance of marriage comes from the personal dedication and love shared between the couple rather than any divine blessing or sacred vows.
Humanist wedding ceremonies are possible and legal, though they focus entirely on the couple's commitment to each other without any religious content. These ceremonies celebrate the human capacity for love, commitment, and partnership without reference to God or religious teachings.
Cohabitation and Christian responses
In modern society, not everyone chooses to marry before living together as a couple. Cohabitation refers to couples who live together in a romantic relationship without being legally married. Some people choose this arrangement because they view marriage as expensive, outdated, or unnecessary for expressing their commitment to each other.
However, Christian teaching generally opposes cohabitation as an alternative to marriage. Christians argue that marriage provides essential elements that cohabitation lacks: true stability, public commitment, and sacred vows made before God. From a Christian perspective, the formal promises and spiritual dimension of marriage create a stronger foundation for family life than the more informal arrangement of cohabitation.
Christians emphasise that marriage involves sacred vows made in the presence of God, creating a spiritual bond that goes beyond simply living together. This divine element, they argue, provides additional strength and meaning to the relationship that cohabitation cannot offer.
The Christian opposition to cohabitation stems from the belief that marriage provides spiritual, emotional, and social benefits that cannot be replicated by informal living arrangements, regardless of the couple's commitment level.
Summary
Key Points to Remember:
-
Marriage in Christianity is traditionally between one man and one woman, providing the proper context for intimate relationships and raising children
-
The Bible, particularly Mark 10:6-9, establishes marriage as God's design from creation, emphasising permanent unity between spouses
-
Christian marriage serves three main purposes: companionship and support, sexual intimacy and family life, and creating lifelong stability for society
-
Most Christians view marriage as a sacred sacrament involving God, making it more than just a legal or social contract
-
While Christians highly value marriage, they also recognise that some people have special callings from God that don't include married life, such as religious vocations