Remarriage (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

What is remarriage?

• Remarriage is when someone marries again after a divorce while their former husband or wife is still alive

• Until 2000, most people who divorced remarried within ten years of their divorce

• However, remarriage has declined as more divorced people are choosing to cohabit instead

• Remarriage is legal but is not always allowed in religious tradition

Christian views on remarriage

• Christians have differing views on remarriage, depending on their views on separation and divorce

• Roman Catholics see marriage as a lifelong sacrament 

  • There are only two ways a marriage between baptised Catholics can end (religiously)

    • The death of one of the partners

    • The marriage is annulled

  • Either of these are the only conditions in which a Catholic who has been married before can get remarried

  • If one of the partners dies, then the surviving partner (the widow) is no longer bound by the wedding vow to remain together for life

    • In these cases, the person would be permitted to remarry

  • An annulment (Catholic Church ruling that the marriage was never valid) cancels the marriage

    • Catholics whose marriage has been annulled can remarry in church, as their first marriage does not count (it was invalid)

  • If a baptised couple gets a civil divorce, they are still considered married in the eyes of God because they have made lifelong vows before God that can never be broken

    • This means that divorced Catholics cannot remarry in church while their partner is still alive

    • These Catholics can attend Mass but cannot receive Holy Communion

• Other Christians think that divorce is wrong but will allow it if the marriage has irretrievably broken down

  • Most of these Churches also allow divorced people to remarry

• Christians believe in God’s forgiveness and that people should have a fresh start if they confess their sins and are truly repentant

  • This belief in forgiveness should apply to divorce and remarriage as much as anything else

• However, permission to remarry is not universal. For example, in the Anglican Church, although divorce is accepted, remarriage is left to the personal decision of the minister. Often a non-church wedding is preferred

Muslim views on remarriage

• Although Muslims believe marriage is a lifelong commitment, the Qur’an does allow for divorce as a last resort

• The Qur’an encourages remarriage after divorce because companionship is important in Islam

  • There is no concept of celibacy in Islam

  • Muhammad (pbuh) married a divorced woman

• Remarriage is particularly encouraged if there are children involved

• It is even considered acceptable for a husband and wife who have divorced once or twice (through the talaq declaration of divorce, not the legal divorce) to remarry each other

  • However, if they reach the third declaration, they cannot reconcile until the wife has married someone else

• The man must support his ex-wife until she remarries, and he must treat her with respect