How should two people commit their lives to one another, and what happens when that commitment breaks down? Marriage and the family is one of the most personally significant topics in GCSE Religious Education, because it sits at the intersection of theology, ethics and everyday human experience.
What is marriage and why do religions value it?
Marriage is a formal commitment between two people, recognised by law and, in many traditions, by religious ceremony. Most world religions treat marriage as more than a legal contract — as a sacred covenant, a spiritual bond, or a social institution with purposes that extend beyond the couple themselves.
Common religious purposes of marriage include:
- Companionship: providing emotional support and partnership through life.
- Procreation: creating a stable environment in which to raise children.
- Protection of family: creating legal and social structures for dependants.
- Sacred duty: fulfilling a religious or spiritual obligation.
In the UK today, religious marriage ceremonies account for around 20 per cent of all marriages (down from over 50 per cent in the 1970s), reflecting broader secularisation. Civil marriages — conducted by registrars without religious content — are now the majority. This shift in practice does not necessarily reflect a decline in religious belief, but it does reflect changing relationships between religious tradition and everyday life.
What do Christians teach about marriage?
Christianity regards marriage as a sacred institution ordained by God. Most Christians cite Genesis 2:24 ("Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh") and Jesus's teaching in Mark 10:9 ("What God has joined together, let no one separate") as foundations.
Catholic teaching holds that marriage is a sacrament — a means of receiving God's grace. It is therefore permanent and indissoluble: once validly contracted and consummated, a Catholic marriage cannot be ended by divorce. Catholics who divorce and remarry without annulment are not permitted to receive Communion. An annulment is a Church declaration that a valid marriage never existed (for example, because of coercion, mental incapacity or failure to intend permanence) — it is not the same as divorce.
Church of England and most Protestant churches also teach that marriage should be for life, but allow for divorce and remarriage in recognition of human failing. The Church of England permits clergy to remarry divorced people at the minister's discretion.
Same-sex marriage: legal in England and Wales since 2014. The Catholic Church and many conservative evangelical traditions do not recognise same-sex marriage as valid. The Church of England allows clergy to conduct blessings of same-sex civil marriages but (as of the time of writing) does not conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies.
What does Islam teach about marriage?
In Islam, marriage (nikah) is a legal contract and a religious duty, not a sacrament. The Prophet Muhammad said "When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion" (hadith), reflecting the centrality of marriage to Islamic life.
Key features of Islamic marriage:
- Mahr (dowry): the groom must give a gift directly to the bride, which becomes her property. It is a legal requirement of the nikah contract.
- Consent: both parties must freely consent. A marriage without consent is not valid.
- Wali: in many traditions, a bride's male guardian (wali) assists in the marriage contract.
- Polygamy: Islamic law (based on Quran 4:3) permits a man to have up to four wives, provided he can treat all equally. Most Islamic scholars argue this effectively limits polygamy, since perfect equal treatment is nearly impossible. Polygamy is illegal in the UK.
Divorce (talaq) is permitted in Islam but strongly discouraged. The Prophet Muhammad described it as "the most hateful of permitted things". Various forms of divorce exist, including the husband's pronouncement of talaq, and the wife-initiated khul' (divorce in exchange for returning the mahr).
What do other religions teach about marriage?
| Religion | Key teaching on marriage | Approach to divorce |
|---|---|---|
| Judaism | Marriage (kiddushin) is a religious duty; formalised by a ketubah (marriage contract) | Divorce permitted; requires a religious document (get) issued by the husband |
| Hinduism | Marriage (vivah) is a sacred duty (dharma); seven vows around a sacred fire | Traditionally discouraged; accepted in some traditions; varies by community |
| Sikhism | Marriage (anand karaj) means "blissful union"; couple circle the Guru Granth Sahib four times | Permitted; civil divorce recognised; some communities discourage it |
| Buddhism | No specific marriage ceremony in all traditions; marriage seen as a social institution | Generally permissive; the focus is on compassion and reducing suffering |
What are changing attitudes to marriage and the family in Britain?
British family life has changed significantly over the past 50 years, and GCSE RE students need to understand both the facts and the religious responses to them.
Cohabitation (couples living together without marriage) has increased dramatically: in 2022, around 3.6 million UK couples were cohabiting without marriage, up from around 0.5 million in 1981. Religious views on cohabitation vary: Catholic and many evangelical Protestant traditions teach it is sinful (sex outside marriage is not permitted); liberal Christian, Reform Jewish and many secular people see it as a reasonable alternative or precursor to marriage.
Divorce rates: approximately 40–45 per cent of marriages in England and Wales end in divorce, though rates have fluctuated. Many religious traditions acknowledge that divorce, though regrettable, is sometimes necessary to protect individuals from harmful relationships. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 introduced "no-fault" divorce in England and Wales, removing the requirement to assign blame.
Same-sex relationships: legal civil partnerships have existed in the UK since 2004; same-sex marriage since 2014. Religious communities are divided: some affirm same-sex relationships fully, others teach that same-sex sexual activity is sinful, and many occupy positions in between.
Single-parent and reconstituted families: religious traditions generally support all families trying to raise children well, even when the family structure differs from the traditional model. Stigma around single parenthood has decreased significantly in British society.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a religious and a civil marriage?
A civil marriage is conducted by a registrar, has no religious content, and is legally binding. A religious marriage ceremony — in a church, mosque, temple or synagogue — has religious significance and may also be legally registered. Some religious ceremonies are not legally registered (for example, some Islamic nikah ceremonies in the UK), meaning couples need a separate civil ceremony for legal recognition. The Government has periodically discussed reforming marriage law to allow outdoor and other non-licensed premises.
What does the Catholic Church mean by "annulment"?
An annulment (more precisely, a Declaration of Nullity) is the Church's formal declaration that a marriage, despite appearing valid, lacked an essential element from the start — meaning no true sacramental marriage ever existed. Grounds include coercion, mental illness, fraud, or lack of intention to have children or remain faithful. An annulment is different from divorce: divorce ends a valid marriage; an annulment declares the marriage was never validly contracted. After an annulment, both parties may marry in the Catholic Church.
Why does Islam allow polygamy but is it permitted in the UK?
Islamic law, based on Quran 4:3, permits a man to marry up to four wives on the condition that he treats each with strict equality. Many Islamic scholars argue this effectively creates a near-impossibility, and monogamy is by far the norm in Muslim communities globally. In the UK, polygamous marriages contracted abroad may be recognised in some limited legal contexts, but contracting a polygamous marriage within the UK is a criminal offence under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. This creates tension for Muslim communities who follow religious law in contexts where civil law differs.
What does GCSE RE expect students to know about marriage and the family?
GCSE RE specifications (AQA, OCR, Eduqas) typically expect students to: know the religious teachings of at least two religions on marriage, its purposes and whether divorce is permitted; understand how attitudes to family structures are changing in British society; evaluate different responses to issues such as cohabitation, same-sex relationships, contraception and divorce; and produce developed, balanced arguments that consider religious and non-religious viewpoints. Quoting scripture or religious teaching precisely strengthens answers significantly.
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