The Complex Role of Religion: How Faith Harms and Helps in Interfaith Marriages

• In Event: Sociology of Religion Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 2. Religion, Marriage, and Family

Abstract

Interfaith couples face increased risks for divorce and other challenges due to religious differences, yet the benefits this growing population might gain from religion are rarely explored. This qualitative study of 32 successful interfaith couples examines how religion both divided and united, harmed and helped them in four different relational domains. Specifically, participant couples reported that religion harmed and helped them through: 1) divisiveness, yet also connection within their religious communities; 2) tension with families of origin, yet enhanced immediate family functioning through integrated religious practices; 3) marital disagreements over beliefs and traditions, yet increased open-mindedness toward spouses and other relationships; 4) individual isolation, yet promotion of virtuous behavior and a meaningful personal framework that inspired hope. As a secondary exploration, the study distinguished between couples that were always interfaith (continuous-interfaith) and couples that became interfaith after one spouse left their shared religion (divergent-interfaith), and found divergent-interfaith couples more often reported harmful experiences. By documenting religion's paradoxical role across relational domains, this research challenges the dominant narrative of religious heterogamy as only a struggle, providing guidance for communities, clinicians, clergy, and couples regarding navigating religious differences.

Authors

• Justin Hendricks, Pennsylvania State University

• Christina Cooper

• Loren Marks

• David Dollahite