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GCSE · Thematic Studies

RS.TA1 Human Sexuality and Relationships Before Marriage

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used when discussing sexual relationships and relationships before marriage.

(a)State what is meant by chastity.(1)

(b)State what is meant by faithfulness, in the context of a relationship.(1)

(c)State what is meant by cohabitation.(1)

(d)State what is meant by promiscuity.(1)

(e)State what is meant by sexuality, in a religious studies context.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three facts about the law relating to sexual relationships in England.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two religious teachings that might lead a believer to think sexual relationships should only take place within marriage. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting beliefs about sex before marriage, religious and/or non-religious. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority or another source in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about religious and non-religious perspectives on human sexuality and relationships before marriage. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question.

(a)State one reason why sex before marriage is a sensitive topic for some religious believers.(1)

(b)Give two reasons why attitudes to sex before marriage have changed in Britain in recent decades.(2)

(c)Explain two religious teachings about chastity and faithfulness. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting beliefs about sex before marriage, religious and/or non-religious. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority or another source in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'Religious believers should never have sex before marriage.' In your answer you should: refer to religious teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two non-religious arguments about sexual relationships before marriage. Refer to Humanist or other non-religious beliefs in your answer.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three reasons why attitudes to sex before marriage have become more accepting in British society in recent decades.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TA1 Human Sexuality and Relationships Before Marriage

Question 1

(a) B1 refraining from sexual activity, especially before or outside marriage, oe
(a) Answer: Refraining from sexual activity, especially outside marriage.
(b) B1 remaining committed and sexually exclusive to one partner, oe
(b) Answer: Remaining committed and sexually exclusive to one partner.
(c) B1 living together as a couple without being married, oe
(c) Answer: Living together as a couple without being married.
(d) B1 having many different casual sexual partners, oe
(d) Answer: Having many different casual sexual partners.
(e) B1 a person's identity in relation to who they are romantically or sexually attracted to, oe
(e) Answer: A person's identity in relation to who they are romantically or sexually attracted to.

Question 2

B1 the legal age of consent is 16, oe
B1 it is illegal to have sex with someone who does not or cannot consent, oe
B1 sexual relationships are protected by law whether or not a couple is married, oe
Answer: Any three: the age of consent is 16; sex without consent is illegal; sexual relationships are protected by law whether or not the couple is married.

Question 3

B1 point 1: many Christians believe sex is intended by God to take place only within marriage, oe
B1 development: 1 Corinthians 7:2 teaches that each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband, which many Christians read as marriage being the proper context for a sexual relationship, oe
B1 point 2: many Muslims believe that sexual relationships should only take place within marriage, oe
B1 development: this reflects Islamic teaching against sexual immorality and the importance placed on marriage as the foundation for family life, oe
Answer: E.g. Christian teaching from 1 Corinthians 7:2 that marriage is the proper context for a sexual relationship; Islamic teaching against sexual immorality and the importance of marriage as the basis for family life.

Question 4

B1 belief 1: many religious believers hold that sex should wait until marriage, believing marriage is the relationship in which a sexual relationship is blessed by God, oe
B1 development: Genesis 2:24 describes a husband and wife becoming 'one flesh' in marriage, which many Christians use to support this teaching, oe
B1 belief 2: many other people, religious and non-religious, believe that what matters morally is a loving, consenting relationship, not whether the couple is married, oe
B1 development: Humanists, for example, generally hold that decisions about sexual relationships are a matter of personal choice and mutual consent, not something requiring religious sanction, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority or another appropriate source made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: traditional teaching that sex belongs within marriage (Genesis 2:24) vs the view, held by many religious and non-religious people, that a loving, consenting relationship matters more than marital status (a Humanist-style argument).

Question 5

(a) B1 because religious teaching is often understood as reserving sex for marriage, so sex before marriage may be seen as going against that teaching, oe
(a) Answer: E.g. because many religious traditions teach that sex should be kept for marriage.
(b) B1 increased availability and acceptance of contraception has separated sex from an automatic risk of pregnancy, oe
(b) B1 rising numbers of people cohabiting before marriage, or instead of marrying, reflect changing social attitudes to relationships, oe
(b) Answer: E.g. wider availability/acceptance of contraception; more people cohabiting before or instead of marriage.
(c) B1 point 1: many Christians value chastity, meaning refraining from sex outside marriage, as a way of honouring God's plan for relationships, oe
(c) B1 development: this is linked to 1 Corinthians 7:2, which presents marriage as the proper context for a sexual relationship, oe
(c) B1 point 2: many Muslims place great importance on faithfulness within marriage as central to a strong family and community, oe
(c) B1 development: Islamic teaching places great importance on marriage as the foundation of a stable, faithful family life, and discourages relationships outside it, oe
(c) Answer: E.g. Christian chastity linked to 1 Corinthians 7:2; Islamic emphasis on faithfulness within marriage as the basis of family life.
(d) B1 belief 1: many religious believers teach that sex should be kept for marriage, because they believe marriage is the relationship in which a sexual relationship is blessed by God, oe
(d) B1 development: Genesis 2:24 describes husband and wife becoming 'one flesh', used by many Christians to support this teaching, oe
(d) B1 belief 2: many non-religious people, and some religious believers, hold that what matters morally is that a sexual relationship is consensual, loving and responsible, not whether the couple is married, oe
(d) B1 development: this reflects a Humanist-style emphasis on personal autonomy and mutual consent as the basis for decisions about relationships, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority or another appropriate source made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: sex reserved for marriage (Genesis 2:24) vs consent- and commitment-based ethics regardless of marital status (a Humanist-style view).
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to religious teaching and/or scripture to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to religious teaching and/or scripture, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: many Christians and Muslims teach that sex should only take place within marriage, based on scripture and teaching that present marriage as the proper context for a sexual relationship (e.g. 1 Corinthians 7:2, Genesis 2:24).
- Agree: some religious believers argue that keeping sex for marriage protects the trust and commitment that marriage is meant to represent.
- Agree: for believers who hold this teaching as central to their faith, 'never' reflects a consistent application of scripture rather than a rule to be relaxed in some situations.
- Agree: some religious communities see chastity before marriage as an expression of self-discipline and respect for a future spouse.
- Disagree: not all religious believers interpret their tradition's teaching the same way; some emphasise love, conscience and personal responsibility over a strict rule, and would not judge a fellow believer who has sex before marriage.
- Disagree: many people, religious and non-religious, believe that what matters morally is that a relationship is consenting, loving and responsible, not whether the couple happens to be married.
- Disagree: many long-term committed couples in Britain today live together, and sometimes have children, before marrying, without this being seen by most people as morally wrong.
- Disagree: 'never' may be seen as too absolute a position, since even within religious traditions there is a range of views about how teaching on sex and marriage should be applied to real relationships today.
- A balanced answer might conclude that whether 'never' is the right religious position depends on how a tradition's teaching on marriage is interpreted, and how much weight is given to personal conscience alongside scripture.

Question 6

B1 point 1: bodily autonomy - non-religious people, including Humanists, generally believe that decisions about sexual relationships belong to the individuals involved, not to religious rules, oe
B1 development: for Humanists, what matters is that a relationship is consenting, honest and does not harm anyone, rather than whether the couple is married, oe
B1 point 2: some non-religious people argue the moral status of a sexual relationship should be judged by whether it is respectful and responsible, not by marital status, oe
B1 development: on this view, marriage is a personal and legal choice a couple may make for other reasons, not a moral precondition for a sexual relationship, oe
Answer: E.g. bodily autonomy/personal choice (a Humanist argument); relationships judged by consent and responsibility rather than marital status.

Question 7

B1 wider availability of reliable contraception has reduced the risk of unplanned pregnancy, oe
B1 declining religious belief and practice in parts of British society has reduced the influence of traditional religious teaching on this issue, oe
B1 greater social acceptance of cohabitation and a wider range of relationship choices, oe
Answer: Any three: wider availability of contraception; declining religious belief/practice in parts of society; greater acceptance of cohabitation and relationship choice.

Human Sexuality and Relationships Before Marriage - Worksheets, Questions and Revision