Year 11 - Religious education
Sexual relationships before and outside of marriage
Relationships and families
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will examine issues around sexuality, the family and relationships. They will study how Christians and other worldviews understand ideas of family and marriage and address how these affect views on issues such as divorce.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain different views on sexual relationships before and outside of marriage.
Key Notes
- People are influenced by different factors on their views on sexual relationships before marriage.
- Non-religious arguments against sex before marriage include possible pregnancy, risk of STIs and emotional risks.
- Survey data shows how attitudes towards sex before marriage have changed over the past 40 years.
- Adultery is illegal in some countries which is often linked to state religion, but it is legal in the UK.
- Non-religious attitudes to adultery include thinking it is wrong due to breaking of marriage vows and emotional impact.
Vocabulary To Learn
- adultery: voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse. Also known as sex outside of marriage
- consensual sex: when a person agrees by choice to partake in sexual acts and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice
- sex before marriage: having sex with someone before you are married. Also known as sexual relationships before marriage or premarital sex
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Everyone thinks its okay to have sex before marriage because it's legal in the UK from the age of 16.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
People are influenced by different factors on their views on sexual relationships before marriage. Non-religious arguments against sex before marriage include possible pregnancy, risk of STIs and emotional risks.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'adultery'
voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse. Also known as sex outside of marriage.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Everyone thinks its okay to have sex before marriage because it's legal in the UK from the age of 16. Correction: Some people do not think that just because it is legal, that it is acceptable. There are reasons why waiting until marriage to have sex is preferred for some people.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Contemporary family issues: Polygamy Study Guide
- Contraception and family planning Study Guide
- Different religious views about contraception Study Guide
- Different religious views about same sex relationships Study Guide
- Different religious views about sex before marriage Study Guide
- Divorce, remarriage and related ethical arguments Study Guide
- Gender prejudice and discrimination Study Guide
- Human sexuality including heterosexual and same sex relationships Study Guide
- Religious attitudes to marriage Study Guide
- Religious views about divorce and remarriage Study Guide
- The nature and purpose of marriage Study Guide
- The nature of families including the role of parents and children Study Guide
- The purpose of families Study Guide
- The roles of men and women Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Religious education guide library.