The Role Of Divorce In Religion

There are many issues in many different factors of religion that contradict the religious traditions. The issue, divorce, affects many couples of different types of religions in the world. Divorce is the official dissolution of a marriage by the court of law, and this affects the religious laws of some religions. Civil divorce can be an issue because many people can use divorce to get alimony money. The finalization of divorce also impacts many financial and family issues like alimony, distribution of property, division of debt, and child custody. This issue affects many religious laws because in some religions it is a sin to divorce after the commitment of marriage. In a divorce, the couple of the marriage are affected by this, and possibly

the children also because the separation of their parents may cause traumatization. Divorce is to break off a marriage that consists of couples being incompatible. A divorce can happen at any moment of one’s marriage upon being decided by the couple. It takes place in either a family lawyer office or a court room to finalize a settlement between the marriage. Divorce occurs when the couple are in disagreement to issues and possibly an affair between the couples. The three religions that have been researched for the issue, divorce, are Catholicism, Islam, and Buddhism. Each religion has a different viewpoint of divorce and different laws instated. Divorce is a big impact in life between a marriage, and it is important to understand that it not only affects the couple but also the religion they belong too.
The three different selected religions, Catholicism, Islam, and Buddhism have different responses and teachings about divorce. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that divorce is not accepted unless an annulment is granted by the church. “In marriage, the two become one flesh in a union joined by God … Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate,” (Mark 10:8 – 9). Many Catholics that divorce and remarry are breaking God’s law; by doing so the divorcees cannot receive the Eucharist. “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery,” (Mark 10:11 – 12). Since many people divorce by civil law, the catholic church still recognizes them as a married couple. This means that since the marriage is still recognized by the catholic church if the couple remarry to another person they commit adultery. Divorce is an unnatural act against the law of Catholicism, and divorcing causes the divorcees to be condemned to permanent adultery. Divorcees can receive reconciliation if they have repented their misdeeds, and the divorcee must commit to self-restraint from sexual activity. Another possible option for divorce is a church annulment; this renders the marriage as null, and it states that the marriage was never existing due to the incorrect conditions for sacramental marriage. The church annulment is not considered a divorce because it never met the requirements for sacramental marriage in the beginning. Divorce is stated as an immoral offense because it causes disorder within the family; but if civil divorce is the last resort because of disagreeing matters then it is not considered a moral offense. Catholicism has a strict viewpoint of divorce, but it is because during marriage the couple are in union with God. Divorce impacts Catholicism greatly, and it will also impact a major religion, Islam.
Islam also states that marriage is not recommended, but if it is needed then exceptions will be made for the husband and wife. Allah proclaims that both parties of the married couple must uphold justice and kindness to finalize their divorce. The husband can finalize his divorce by pronouncing his divorce to her three times. Reconciliation is used to help aid the marriage, but if that fails then the couple are granted the right to divorce. The initiation of divorce has different names by either the wife or husband: if the husband initiates the divorce it is know as Talaaq, and if the wife initiates the divorce it is known as Khul’. The wife will only initiate a divorce when the husband is not at fault because of her wrongful actions. If the husband is at fault for his wrongful actions, then the wife can summit an approval for a divorce to a judge. The husband in the marriage has greater power than his wife stated in the Quran. “… And due to them (wives) is similar to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them (in responsibility and authority). And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise,” (Quran: 2:228). The announcement of a divorce by the man awaits three-months to ensure that there is no sexual intercourse and to establish if the wife is pregnant or not. “… If they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them,” (Quran: 2:233). Allah advises that the married couple should reconsider divorce because the action of divorce may affect their child’s future. In Islam, the worthiest divorce is when the husband refuses to like his wife, and observes if she is pregnant or not before deciding to proceed with the divorce. This action of divorce is known as the worthiest because of two reasons: The companions of the prophet held this to be a more excellent method, and in the process of this method the husband has the power to reverse the divorce after her final pronouncement. The wife is still considered to be married until her ‘idda (three months) has ended. The husband also has the power to reverse the divorce before the wife’s ‘idda (before three months). Islam has a less strict viewpoint of divorce and the men are more dominant in the decision of divorce. The impact of divorce on Islam is greatly affected and Allah considers to reconcile before a divorce to ensure no regrets are made. Islam may have a less strict viewpoint of divorce, but Buddhism’s viewpoint is truly unique and different.
In Buddhism, divorce is not prohibited which allows anyone to divorce if they are not compatible.

“Just because divorce is caused by unhappiness, that doesn’t men that divorce should be an unhappy event,” (Sumitta, 2009). Buddhist encourage that divorce should be recommended if the marriage is causing pain and suffering between the husband and wife. The Buddha encourages old men not to have a relationship with young women because it is incompatible between them and causes disharmony. If a married couple divorces, the Buddha’s following and rule must be more strictly applied. Buddhist believe that if a marriage is inadequate then the husband and wife are free to divorce without any rituals or consequences. Marriage is a vital role in Buddhism because it gives support and protection and it must come from true loyalty. In a marriage, Buddhist believe that giving strength and moral courage in a relationship will help each other and develop a stronger bond. Married couples can not think of either a man or woman being superior in the relationship because it can lead to many dominant issues. The Buddhist believe to prevent a divorce the relationship must consist of equality, exuding gentleness, self-control, respect, generosity, calm, and dedication. “All I teach is suffering and the end of suffering,” [Siddhartha Gautama] (Sumitta, 2009). The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, states that he teaches the end of suffering. The encouragement of divorce is allowed because marriage is

enlisted as a type of suffering if the husband and wife are feeling pain or suffering. There are four noble truths of divorce: 1. Marriage is a type of suffering – the motivations of marriage may be incorrect and it also requires acceptance; 2. There is a cause for divorce – couples may one day think that they are unhappy and that the happiness of marriage can not be found in ignorance; 3. There is happiness in divorce – people see divorce as betrayal and hurtful, but divorce can offer opportunities to re-evaluate life; 4. How divorce ends in happiness – Divorce is a enormous change and it changes a part of one’s life; none have betrayed each other because they are two different people they also see the true suffering and the end of suffering. These four noble truths of divorce explain that divorce can lead to happiness and marriage is the actual true suffering. Buddhist believe that three actions can lead to happiness during the process of divorce or after: 1. Mediate – 30 minutes of meditation can help relief pain, stress, anxiety, lower blood pressure, and create inner for divorcees; 2. Giving – donating time and effort creates compassion and forgiveness helping from divorce, and creating a social network after the previous marriage to help engage in social activities; 3. Listening – talking does not help reflect upon one’s self; the act of listening to others can help comprehension and insight. Buddhism truly has a unique and different viewpoint of divorce; the Buddha’s viewpoint of divorce can be learned that not allowing a marriage to dissolute is the ultimate suffering.
The three religions that have been selected all have different components and viewpoints of divorce.

Catholicism has a similar response to Islam because both religions discourage divorce. The religions, Catholicism and Islam, both acknowledge that divorce should not be attempted until it is the final option and all has failed. In Catholicism, divorce is a serious issue causing the divorcees incapable of obtaining the Eucharist. Islam has a similar viewpoint, but it is less serious; it consists of both equality, kindness, and justice for the divorcees. Both religions allow reconciliation for the couple to be cleansed from their misdeeds. Catholicism states that reconciliation can only be done for people who have regretted their actions. Islam also allows reconciliation, but to help the marriage from divorce. The church annulment is processed for research to see if the marriage is applicable for divorce. Islam has a three-month period before divorce to observe if the wife is pregnant. During the three-month period the husband and wife are restrained from having sexual relations. This also connects to the Catholic reconciliation for divorcees are only done if they are committed to having self-restraint from sexual activity. Catholicism and Islam may have its similarity, but Catholicism and Buddhism’s viewpoints are vastly different. In Buddhism, it is believed that divorce is encouraged because suffering is apart of marriage; this contradicts the catholic church and their

teachings. The catholic church believes that once married the couple become in union with God and that they should not divorce under any circumstances because the marriage is sacramental. Whereas in Buddhism, divorce is not suffering but a form of happiness because it prevents the marriage from going on any further. The Buddha’s teaching makes sense because if marriage is causing suffering then divorce will lead the couple to happiness. Catholicism and Buddhism have different perspectives of divorce, but the Buddha’s main objective is to stop suffering whereas the catholic church is to stay in union with God. The Canada law does not encourage or discourage divorce, but the person trying to attain a divorce must have a valid reason. The response that one would possibly agree is the Buddhism’s perspective of divorce because of its valid reasons for the encouragement of divorce. The Buddha reveals the truth that if the couple in the marriage can not deal with each others suffering they must divorce to achieve happiness. All three religions, Catholicism, Islam, and Buddhism truly demonstrates and explains the understanding of divorce and the negative and positive perspectives from different teachings.