Relationships: Sexual Love (AQA GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

Biblical understanding of human beings as sexual

What does the Bible say about human beings as sexual beings?

• The book of Genesis shows Catholics that human sexuality is created by God

  • This means that they do not consider it to be accidental or sinful

• All Catholics believe that humans are created male and female and that sexual difference is part of God’s design

  • Sexuality is therefore good because creation is declared “very good” (Genesis 1:31)

  • Sexuality is part of being human and not something to be ashamed of

• The Catholic belief that humans are made in God’s image (Imago Dei) means that humans can love, enter relationships and give themselves to others

  • Catholics believe that sexuality reflects this because it allows deep, personal relationships 

  • Roman Catholicism teaches that sexual relationships should mirror God’s love, which is faithful, loving and committed

• The Bible teaches that “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18) 

  • This tells Catholics that humans are made for relationships and that sexuality helps to overcome loneliness

• The Bible also says that: 

• This idea of “one flesh” shows a physical union and emotional and spiritual unity

• This verse is also the biblical foundation for marriage in Catholic Christianity

Catholic teaching on sexual love

What is the Catholic teaching on sexual love?

• Catholics believe that sex is a gift from God

  • This means that sex is not just physical pleasure but is a way of expressing love and commitment

• Catholics also believe that sexual love belongs only within marriage

  • All Catholics believe that marriage should be lifelong, faithful, exclusive and open to children

  • Sexual love expresses the commitment already made in marriage vows

• Catholicism teaches that there are two purposes of sexual love

  • Sexual love is unitive, meaning that it

    • Brings the couple closer together

    • Strengthens emotional and spiritual bonds

    • Expresses love and faithfulness

  • Sexual love is also procreative, meaning that

    • It is open to the possibility of creating new life

    • This is reflected in the Bible, which tells Catholics to

• In Catholic Christianity, sexual love reflects God’s love, which mirrors

  • God’s faithful love for humanity

  • Christ’s self-giving love for the Church

• All Catholics believe that sex outside of marriage is wrong

  • This includes casual sex, adultery and sex before marriage

  • Catholics believe it is wrong because it separates sex from commitment, risks using people for pleasure and does not respect human dignity

• Catholics believe that artificial contraception is wrong because

  • It blocks the procreative purpose of sex

  • It separates sex from openness to life

• Many Catholics do, however, accept Natural Family Planning because

  • It works with the body’s natural rhythms

  • It does not interfere artificially with reproduction

• Catholic teaching states that it is not sinful to be homosexual but that homosexual acts are sinful because they take place outside of marriage

  • Marriage in Catholic Christianity is understood as between one man and one woman who can procreate

  • However, all Catholics believe that homosexual people must be treated with respect and dignity and that discrimination is wrong

Pope St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body

What is Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body?

• Pope St. John Paul II developed the Theology of the Body

  • It is a series of teachings (catecheses) given between 1979 and 1984

  • It explains Catholic beliefs about love, sex, marriage and the human body

What are the key teachings of Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body?

• The teachings are important to Catholics because they help people understand what the correct behaviour is in sex and relationships

• The key feature of the teachings is

  • Catholics believe that humans are made in the image of God (Imago Dei)

    • This means that humans are made for relationships

    • It also means that men and women are equal in dignity

    • Any love within a relationship should reflect God’s self-giving love

• The teachings also tell Catholics that the body has meaning

  • The teachings explain that the body shows God’s plan for love

  • They also teach that sexual actions have moral meaning

• Pope St. John Paul II also explained the importance of marriage and that it involves total self-giving

• He advised that marriage should be lifelong and faithful

• He said that sex should only take place within marriage

• He described marriage as a vocation rather than just a contract

• The teachings also state that sex and love belong together and that sex without commitment uses people

  • Catholic teaching therefore rejects sex before marriage, adultery and pornography

• Catholics are taught that with sex, there should be an openness to life

  • The conjugal act is meant to express a love that is open to life (procreation)

  • This highlights the unitive (bringing couples closer) and procreative (for the purpose of having children) nature of sex

  • This also explains the Catholic stance on artificial contraception

• Finally, the teachings highlight the importance of chastity where appropriate

  • It teaches that true freedom comes from loving responsibly

• The teaching is important for Catholics because it promotes respect, dignity and commitment

• It also challenges casual sex culture and supports Catholic teaching on marriage and family

Different perspectives on sexual relationships

Why do Christians have different perspectives on sexual relationships?

• Most Christians believe that sex is a gift from God, that sexual relationships should be loving and faithful and that marriage is the proper context for sex to take place

  • However, some Christians have different perspectives on sex before marriage, adultery and homosexuality

  • The reason for the different views could be that they interpret the Bible differently

  • Some might take a literal approach, and others consider historical and cultural context

  • They also place different levels of authority on Church tradition, reason and personal conscience, leading to different conclusions

What does Christianity teach about sex before marriage?

• The Catholic Church teaches that sex before marriage is wrong

  • This is taught because they believe that sex is for marriage only

  • They also believe that a couple can only achieve commitment and stability through marriage

• Other Christians believe sex before marriage can be acceptable if

  • The couple are committed

  • There is love and faithfulness

  • It reflects Jesus’s teaching on love

• They may argue that the Bible was written in a different cultural context or that love is more important than marital status

What does Christianity teach about adultery?

• Catholic Christianity teaches that adultery is always wrong

  • They believe this because adultery breaks marriage vows, causes harm to individuals and goes against the teachings of Jesus

  • Key passages from the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, forbid adultery

• Most other Christians would agree that adultery is wrong, but they may focus more on forgiveness

  • Divorce and remarriage may be accepted in some other Christian denominations

  • Because divorce is not allowed for Catholics, it would not be recognised and new relationships would be viewed as adultery

What does Christianity teach about homosexuality?

• Although being homosexual is not a sin for Roman Catholics, homosexual acts are considered wrong

  • This is because sex should be open to procreation

  • Catholics also believe that marriage is between one man and one woman

  • Therefore, gay Catholics are expected to be chaste (not to have sexual relationships)

• However, the Catholic Church teaches that it is wrong to discriminate against gay people

• Other Christians do not share the view of Roman Catholics

  • They believe that homosexual relationships are acceptable

  • They might argue that love and commitment matter more than gender

  • They might not take the Bible literally and instead recognise that biblical teachings reflect ancient culture, not modern understanding

• Some Christian churches allow same-sex marriage and ordain LGBTQ+ clergy