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GCSE Religious Studies · key term
A legally recognised union between two people as partners, usually intended as a lifelong commitment; it may also have religious significance.
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Paper 2
Revise: Nature and Purpose of MarriageMarriage is a legally recognised union between two people as partners, usually intended to last for life. It is a public commitment: the partners acknowledge their relationship and its responsibilities before others. Its legal status protects each partner's rights and can provide security.
Paper 1
A legally recognised union between two people. Christians traditionally understand it as a sacred, faithful and lifelong commitment.
Distinguish nature from purpose: nature concerns what marriage is; purpose concerns what it is for.
Link a teaching to its significance. For example, becoming ‘one flesh’ supports the Christian understanding of marriage as a deep, committed union.
Use precise qualifications: Catholic and Orthodox Christians regard marriage as a sacrament, but not all Christians describe it in this way.
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For Christians, marriage is more than a legal agreement. It is traditionally understood as a gift from God: a sacred bond in which a couple promise lifelong love, faithfulness and support. Commitment means that their responsibilities to one another do not disappear when life becomes difficult.