Family Planning, Divorce and Remarriage
Christians agree that marriage matters, but disagree on planning a family, ending a marriage, and marrying again. Learn the contrasting Christian views on contraception, divorce and remarriage, and the reasons behind them.
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Where Christians disagree 💍
Nearly all Christians agree that marriage and family matter. But on three sensitive questions - **planning a family**, **ending a marriage**, and **marrying again** - Christians disagree, sometimes sharply. This module sets out the **contrasting views** and, just as importantly, the **reasons** behind them. (Any quotation here is from the public-domain King James Version.)
The words you need 📖
Four terms run through the whole topic.
Match each view to who holds it 🔗
- Artificial contraception is wrong
- Responsible contraception is acceptable
- A valid marriage cannot be dissolved
- Divorce can be permitted as a last resort
- The traditional Roman Catholic view, as sex is linked to procreation
- Many Protestant and Anglican churches, allowing responsible parenthood
- The Catholic view that marriage is an indissoluble sacrament
- Many Protestant churches, out of compassion when a marriage has broken down
What is an annulment? 📜
What is an annulment in the Roman Catholic Church?
- A declaration that a valid marriage never truly existed
- A quick and easy divorce granted to anyone
- A ceremony to renew marriage vows
- A permanent ban on ever marrying again
A teaching both sides use ✝️
Many Christians who oppose divorce point to Jesus' words in the King James Version: **"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."** (Mark 10:9) They read marriage as a lifelong bond made by God. Others stress that Jesus also taught **forgiveness**, and that some Gospel teaching allows an exception, so they permit divorce where a marriage has genuinely broken down. The same faith leads to different conclusions.
Reasons some Christians give ✅
Select the TWO reasons a Christian might give for accepting divorce or remarriage.
- A marriage can irretrievably break down
- Compassion and forgiveness can allow a fresh start
- Marriage is an unbreakable sacrament
- Only God, never people, can end a marriage
Two broad Christian views ⚖️
There is no single "Christian view" here. Compare a more traditional stance with a more liberal one - both held sincerely.
Match each term to its meaning 🗂️
- Contraception
- Divorce
- Annulment
- Remarriage
- Methods used to prevent pregnancy or plan a family
- The legal ending of a marriage
- A declaration that a valid marriage never truly existed
- Marrying again after a divorce or the death of a spouse
Remarriage in church 💒
What is the traditional Roman Catholic view on remarrying in church while a former spouse is still alive?
- It is not usually allowed, because the first marriage is still valid
- It is actively encouraged for everyone
- It is required by Church law
- It is allowed only on a Sunday
Build a balanced answer 🪜
An interactive activity.
The views in words 🧩
Christians disagree about family life. The traditional Catholic Church opposes artificial _____ and teaches that marriage is an indissoluble _____, so it does not accept _____ but may grant an _____. Many Protestant churches take a more flexible view and may permit _____.
Whose view is this? 🎬
An interactive activity.
Your turn: evaluate the claim ✍️
An interactive activity.
The grade-9 habit 🌟
The top skill here is **balance**. There is no single "Christian view" on contraception, divorce or remarriage. So always give a **more traditional view** (often Roman Catholic, stressing marriage as a lifelong sacrament) AND a **more liberal view** (often Protestant or Anglican, stressing compassion, forgiveness and human fallibility), each with a reason or teaching - then reach a **justified judgement** of your own. Contrast, plus reasons, plus judgement, wins the marks.