Relationships, Marriage & Divorce
Human Sexuality
Human sexuality refers to how people experience and express sexual attraction. People may be heterosexual (attracted to the opposite sex), homosexual (attracted to the same sex), or bisexual (attracted to both sexes). In contemporary British society, all three orientations are widely accepted and protected by law.
Both Christianity and Islam teach that sexual relationships should take place within marriage. However, there is a range of views within Christianity on homosexuality — from conservative opposition to liberal acceptance.
Sexual Relationships Before & Outside Marriage
In modern Britain, sex before marriage is common and widely accepted. However, most religious traditions teach that sexual intimacy belongs within the commitment of marriage.
The Catholic Church teaches that sex must only take place within marriage. St Paul wrote: “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Pope Pius XI’s encyclical Casti Connubii (1930) taught that sex belongs to married couples alone. The Church of England generally agrees but is more lenient towards committed couples. Liberal Protestants tend to accept sex in loving, stable relationships even without marriage.
Islam is clear that sex must only happen within marriage. The Qur’an forbids zinah (unlawful sexual intercourse). Under Shari’ah law, sex before marriage is a serious offence. Abdul Wahid Hamid wrote: “The only way to protect all within society is to maintain a society where only a man and his wife share the act of sex.”
Both Christianity and Islam also condemn adultery. The Ten Commandments state: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). The Qur’an (17:32) warns: “Do not go anywhere near adultery: it is an outrage, and an evil path.”
The Nature & Purpose of Marriage
Marriage is a formal, legal union between two people. For religious believers, it is more than a legal contract — it is a sacred commitment before God. Christians call marriage a sacrament (Catholics and some Anglicans) or a covenant before God.
The purposes of marriage include: lifelong companionship, a stable environment for children, sexual intimacy within a committed relationship, and (for religious believers) following God’s plan. Genesis 2:24 says a man shall “be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” The Qur’an (30:21) describes marriage as a source of “love and mercy.”
Same-Sex Marriage & Cohabitation
In a Christian marriage ceremony, couples exchange vows before God, promising to love and cherish each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” In Islam, the marriage contract is called a nikah. It includes a mahr (financial gift from groom to bride), and both parties must freely consent. The ceremony is often simple, witnessed by family and an imam.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales. The first weddings took place in March 2014. Many liberal Christians support it, arguing that love and commitment matter more than the gender of the partners. However, the Catholic Church and many evangelical Christians oppose same-sex marriage, teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman as God intended.
Islam does not recognise same-sex marriage. Traditional Islamic teaching holds that marriage can only be between a man and a woman, based on the Qur’an’s teachings about the natural order of creation.
Cohabitation (living together without marriage) is increasingly common in Britain. Most Christians prefer marriage but liberal denominations accept cohabitation in committed relationships. Islam does not accept cohabitation because sexual relationships outside marriage are forbidden.
Divorce & Remarriage
Divorce is the legal ending of a marriage. In Britain, divorce is common — roughly 42% of marriages end in divorce. Common reasons include adultery, unreasonable behaviour, growing apart, financial problems and domestic abuse. Religious attitudes to divorce vary significantly, and the question of whether remarriage should be permitted after divorce is closely linked to beliefs about the permanence of marriage vows.
The Catholic Church does not allow divorce because marriage is a sacrament. Jesus taught: “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Mark 10:9). Catholics may obtain an annulment if the marriage was not valid. The Church of England permits divorce and some clergy will remarry divorced people. Most Protestant churches accept divorce as a last resort, showing compassion for those in unhappy or abusive marriages.
Islam permits divorce but discourages it. The Prophet Muhammad said: “Of all the lawful things, divorce is the most hated by Allah.” There is a waiting period called iddah (three months) to allow time for reconciliation and to check if the wife is pregnant. Both men and women can initiate divorce in Islam, and remarriage is permitted after the iddah period.
The ethical tension around divorce centres on two principles: the sanctity of marriage vows (marriage is sacred and permanent) versus compassion (it is cruel to force people to stay in harmful or loveless marriages). Different religious traditions balance these principles differently.