Religious Teaching on Relationships and Families

Sex and the Church

We are going to watch a BBC Two programme, Sex and the Church, where we will learn about how was considered a social radical in his time by insisting on and no .

Task: as we watch, complete the True or False activity. If false, right the correct answer below in the space provided.

True / False 1. Growing up in Galilee, Jesus was surrounded by Greek, Roman, and Jewish culture, so he would have been aware of the contradictory attitudes towards sex within the Middle East at the time. ______True / False 2. Jesus’ attitude towards sex was typical of the time he

lived in – the majority of people believed in monogamy (only having one partner) and not getting divorced. ______True / False 3. Jesus’ treatment of women was radical at the time, playing important roles within his ministry, including female disciples who were largely socially excluded. ______True / False 4. Jesus spoke extensively about his beliefs that homosexuality was wrong, and that people should be celibate outside of marriage. ______

Religious Teaching on Relationships and Families

Sex and the Church

We are going to watch a BBC Two programme, Sex and the Church, where we will learn about how Jesus was considered a social radical in his time by insisting on monogamy and no divorce.

Answers

1. Growing up in Galilee, Jesus was surrounded by Greek, Roman, and Jewish culture, so he would have been aware of the contradictory attitudes towards sex within the Middle East at the time. 2. Jesus’ attitude towards sex went against the conventions of the time – he was a social radical in his views. His views on monogamy and no divorce rejected the Jewish acceptance of and the practice of easy divorce. 3. Jesus’ treatment of women was radical at the time, playing important roles within his ministry, including female disciples who were largely socially excluded. 4. Despite the fact that Christianity is seen as a sexually oppressive religion today, Jesus himself did not say anything about homosexuality, and he said very little about celibacy.