2.

4 Human Relationships
Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about, and the (differing) attitudes of religious and non-
religious people to:

 human sexuality and its purposes

 relationships between the sexes, including heterosexuality and homosexuality.

(Differing) religious and non religious responses to changing patterns of relationships between the
sexes.

Christian beliefs/teachings about the principles of relationships, with particular reference to Christian
teaching about love.

Sexual relationships – Christian teachings about the nature and importance of sexual relationships;

different Christian teachings and attitudes towards sexual relationships outside of marriage and
homosexuality;

different atheist and Humanist attitudes to sexual relationships and Christian responses to them.

Christian Love

Christians believe that God has unconditional and enduring love for all human beings, known
as agape. They believe that he showed this love by sacrificing his son, Jesus, to atone for
human sin. In this sense, agape is also a self-sacrificing kind of love.

Jesus’ mission was based on agape. The gospels tell how Jesus encouraged people to love
others unconditionally, even when it was difficult to do so.

‘For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son.’ (John 3) – Jesus coming down
to earth to redeem us from sin - God sent his own Son to die to give all people the chance to
have a relationship with him. Christ died for us – God forgives us and gives us an eternal life.

Holy spirit remains with us and guides us in life – Christians claims humans can share God’s love
through the power of the Holy Spirit

‘I do not condemn you. Go and sin no more.’ (Jesus saving the adulteress from stoning in John 9)

St. Augustine – lover, beloved, loving = father, son, holy spirit

Erotic love of sexual attraction should be integrated into family love of a husband and wife for each
other, family love for parent and children, which should be integrated into bonds of friendship and
religious practices which we come to share in the power of God’s agapeic love to guide and direct our
lives.

Bible Teachings on Importance of Sexual Relationships

Christians teach that sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed by one man and one woman who are
married to each other. Therefore, sex is sacred and holy.
Marriage is the most appropriate context for having sex.

Sex was given to humans by God for the joy, pleasure and bonding of a married couple and for the
procreation of children.

Sex is God’s creation. It was God’s idea to create people as both male and female, and unite them
through sex (Genesis 2:24). Both men and women are created with sexual desire.

Sex is good. Sex was part of God’s good creation (Genesis 1:31).

Sex is designed to provide pleasure and satisfaction (Song of Songs 4:10). Men and
women are both given the gift of being able to experience pleasure and delight within marriage. This
enriches and deepens the love relationship between the couple.

Sex is designed for marriage. God’s purpose for human beings is that men and women should
experience a life-long, faithful, permanent and responsible relationship. These conditions are met
within the context of marriage. It is there that God blesses and approves this union.

In Genesis 1:28 the command to ‘bear fruit and multiply’ is obeyed through the sexual relationship.
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:27–28 ESV)

Humanists and Atheist Attitudes to Sexual Relationships

 Sex must be consensual – rape is unacceptable

 Must be between people of age (legal) – paedophilia is wrong
 Sexual partner needs to be single or separated from their partner – cheating is offensive
 No payment should be involved (prostitution)
 Should involve a degree of stability – high levels of promiscuity are frowned upon
 Must be safe – contraception should be used (risks of disease and pregnancy)

Humanists makes human happiness central – quality of life

Humanism encourages people to explore sexual relationships for themselves which means they may
not reject premarital sex and adultery.

Homosexuality (Christian Teachings) – Same Sex Relationships

Catholic Attitude
Catholics believe that being a homosexual is not a sin but that homosexual sexual relationships are
sinful. The Catholic Church does not accept same sex marriages but are less opposed to civil
partnerships. However, the Church teaches that it is sinful to harass homosexuals.

 The bible condemns homosexual activity

 It is not possible for homosexual couples to have sex with a creative purpose – prevents
procreation which is the purpose of sexual relationships
 The church teaches that marriage is for a man and a woman to join as one and to raise a
family
 The church teaches that people cannot help their sexual orientation, therefore, discriminating
homosexuals is wrong
 Bible teaches that everyone has human dignity – imago dei

Evangelical Protestant Attitude

Evangelical Protestants believe that homosexuality is a sin – there should be no homosexual

Christians. Some hold special prayer meetings to change sexual orientations of people.

 They believe that the Bible is the direct word of God – Bible condemns homosexuality.
 Salvation of Christ can remove all sins, including homosexuality.

Evangelical Alliance disapproves homophobia and calls upon Churches to welcome homosexuals as
they would welcome any other person into their church.

Liberal Protestants (Quakers)

They believe that lifelong homosexual relationships are acceptable and homosexuals are welcome into
the Church. They are happy to provide blessings for civil partnerships but not same sex marriages
which they believe cannot be equated to Christian marriage.

 Bible need reinterpreting – it reflects Jewish culture rather than Word of God
 Christian belief in love and acceptance means homosexuals must be accepted.
 Scientific research shows that homosexuality may be caused by biological factors & humans
are made by God.
 Genesis 1 – all humans are created in the image of God (imago dei) – which must include
homosexuals

Some Protestants like Quakers are happy to celebrate same-sex marriages in their churches. They are
happy for homosexuals to be ministers and priests.

Bible Quotes Against Homosexuality:

 Genesis 1 – “be fruitful and increase in number” – God created man an woman to
procreate and homosexuality prevents this from happening
 The natural order represented in nature is for male and female to unite.
  Homosexual practice is forbidden in the book of Leviticus, “If a man lies with a male as
with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to
death.” (Leviticus 20:13).
 In some of Saint Paul's letters included in the Bible, he condemns homosexuality as
“unrighteous” and claims that men who practice homosexuality will not inherit
the Kingdom of God.
 Leviticus 18 – describes homosexuality as an ‘abomination’

Teachings that support Homosexuality:

 “Love your neighbour as yourself” Jesus – treat others like how you want to be treated,
homosexuals should not be discriminated
 Jesus never spoke about homosexuality which can mean he does not have a problem with it
 God’s agape love – Christian love is loving unconditionally no matter what gender they are.

Humanists views on Homosexuality

Humanists, and the majority of atheists and non religious people, see no problems with same-sex
sexual relationships. Their sexuality is their choice and their own concern unless it interferes with
others’ human rights.

They argue that arguments against homosexuality are based on religious reasons so if people have no
religion then the reason for disapproving of homosexuality disappears.

Humanists feel that people should explore their sexuality and encourages LGBT rights.