New
New
Year 10
Edexcel B

Christianity and family planning

I can explain different Christian teachings and views on contraception and family planning.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel B

Christianity and family planning

I can explain different Christian teachings and views on contraception and family planning.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. There are ethical questions to ask when considering the use of contraception and family planning.
  2. Christians may use different sources of authority and teachings to answer these questions, which leads to diverse views.
  3. Some Christians use situation ethics to work out the most loving decision and/or look to Bible teachings.
  4. Roman Catholic Christians may use Humanae Vitae and use an absolutist approach to Natural Law for these issues.
  5. Social science methods help to find out people’s views on these issues, including the use of surveys and interviews.

Keywords

  • Absolutist - someone with the belief that there are certain actions that are always right or always wrong

  • Contraception - precautions taken to prevent pregnancy

  • Family planning - regulation of births; planning when to have a family and how many children to have by using birth control and /or contraception

  • Procreate (procreation) - having a child; seen as a duty in many religions

  • Situation ethics - an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation, rather than following fixed rules or laws

Common misconception

All members of a Christian denomination follow all its teachings.

Christians may use their conscience to decide which teachings to follow or not.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Christianity and family planning, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students need to remember to use a source of authority in their answers, so using quizzes can help pupils to remember and retrieve these.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Correct Answer: Bible, bible

Q2.
Christianity is made up of different such as Catholic, Anglican and Methodist.

Correct Answer: denominations, Denominations

Q3.
Which of these is a Christian belief about God?

Correct answer: God is one and three at the same time
God is only a spirit without form
There are many gods in Christianity

Q4.
What does the New Testament mainly focus on?

The history of the Jewish people
The creation of the world
Correct answer: The life and teachings of Jesus

Q5.
What is the largest Christian denomination in the world?

Anglican
Correct answer: Catholic
Methodist

Q6.
What is one key teaching from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?

Correct answer: Love your neighbour and pray for your enemies
Only follow the Ten Commandments
Avoid all people who are not Christians

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be and increase in number.”

Correct Answer: fruitful, Fruitful

Q2.
Saint Aquinas developed a theory called Natural Law, which influences Catholic teaching on contraception.

Correct Answer: Thomas

Q3.
Which Christian denomination is most closely linked to the teachings of Humanae Vitae?

Correct answer: Roman Catholic
Anglican
Baptist

Q4.
What does the document Humanae Vitae say about contraception?

It must be approved by local church leaders
It is always allowed to use artificial contraception
Correct answer: It is always wrong to use artificial contraception

Q5.
Which ethical theory focuses on making the most loving decision in each situation?

Natural Law
Correct answer: Situation ethics
Biblical literalism

Q6.
All members of a Christian denomination follow all its teachings.

Correct answer: False, Christians may use their conscience to decide which teachings to follow
True, Christians must follow every teaching without question
True, Christians in the same denomination always have the same views