Religion and Families 1st editon by Loren Marks, David Dollahite 1317804953 9781317804956

1 Why Religion Matters to You Right Now and in Your Future Family

Why Does the Religion-Family Connection Matter to Us on a Personal Level?

Why Does Emerging Adulthood Matter to Us?

Why Does the Religion-Family Connection Matter to Us on a Professional Level?

Not an Answer Book but a Question Book

The BIG Questions

Why Should Any of This Matter to You?

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

2 What in the World Is Religion?

Defining “Religion”

Religion Is Not Spirituality

Some BAD/RAP Definitions of Religion

Beyond BAD/RAP Definitions of Religion

The (Partial) Rejection of the BAD/RAP Hypothesis of Religion

Operational Definitions of Religion: How Should We “Measure” Religion?

Inviting More Than One Family Member to Sit for the Family Portrait

A Three-Dimensional Definition of Religion

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

3 Does Religion Matter to Families?

Religious Practices and Well-Being: Individual-Level and Family-Level Connections

Religious Beliefs and Well-Being: Individual-Level and Family-Level Connections

Faith Community and Well-Being: Individual-Level and Family-Level Connections

Religion, Relationships, and Responsibility

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

4 Why Does Religion Matter in Marriage?

A Conceptual Model of Family Relationships and the Three Dimensions of Religion

The Conceptual Model and the American Families of Faith Research Project

Religious Practices and the Marital Relationship: Arrow 1A

Religious Beliefs and the Marital Relationship: Arrow 2A

Religious Community and the Marital Relationship: Arrow 3A

Limited Depth and Color in the Research on Religion and Family

What Is Known About Inter-Faith Marriage?

Conflict in Inter-Faith Marriage

Are You on the Same Page?

Challenges in Marriage: Do They Unite or Divide?

The Early Years of Marriage: “Growing Up” and Moving from “Me” to “We”

The Importance of Being “Equally Yoked”

Conclusion

A Review of Connections between Religion and Marriage

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

5 The Influence of Religious Beliefs in Marriage

Theme 1: The Unifying Influence of Pro-Marriage Beliefs

Theme 2: The Stabilizing Influence of Anti-Divorce Beliefs

Theme 3: Religious Beliefs as a Source of Harm in Marriages and Families

Theme 4: The Importance of Shared Religious Beliefs in Marriage

Theme 5: Faith in God as a Marital Support

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

6 Parenting in Faith—What Research Has Found

Religious Practices and the Mother-Child Relationship: Arrow 1B:

Religious Beliefs and the Mother-Child Relationship: Arrow 2B

Religious Community and the Mother-Child Relationship: Arrow 3B

Potential Harmful Aspects of Maternal Religious Community Involvement

Marital Status and Maternal Support in Religious Communities

Religious Practices and the Father-Child Relationship: Arrow 1C

Religious Beliefs and the Father-Child Relationship: Arrow 2C

Religious Community and the Father-Child Relationship Arrow 3C

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

7 Parenting and American Families of Faith

How and Why Does Religion Help and Harm Parent-Child Relationships?

Parenting and Congruence in the Faith Walk

Talking the Talk: Encouraging Youth-Oriented Religious Conversations

Parent-Centered Conversations

Youth-Centered Conversations

When Parents Are Not What They Should Be

The Congruent Example and Faith Walk of Non-Parents

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

8 Muslim Families in the United States

What Is Islam? Who Is a Muslim?

Muslims in the United States and Muslim U.S. Demographics

Challenges of Being a Religious Minority: Muslim Perspectives

The Muslim Practice of Hijab

Muslim Religious Community

Muslim Religious Observance in the Home

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

9 Jewish Families in the United States

Jewish Family Life

Who Is a Jew? What Is Judaism?

Jews in the United States and Jewish U.S. Demographics

Challenges of Being a Religious Minority: Jewish Perspectives

Religious Community

Jewish Religious Observance in the Home

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

10 Religion and Diverse Family Forms

Does the Shape of Families Shape Faith?

The Influence of Divorce and Religion on Emerging Adults

God Images and Parental Divorce

A Brief Note on Theories of Moral Development

Emerging Social Science on How the Decline of Marriage Impacts Faith Communities

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

11 How Religion Influences Coping with Stress and Challenges in Families

Religious Coping

Variations of Religious Coping

Prayer as a Coping Mechanism

Religion and Coping as Described by American Families of Faith

Theme 1: Religious Beliefs and Coping

Theme 2: Religious Practices and Coping

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

12 Forgiveness, Faith, and Families

Forgiveness: An Introduction and Definition

Forgiveness in Family Relationships

Forgiveness: A Review of Social Science Research

Forgiveness Is a Process, Not an Event

Ways Forgiveness Is Helpful

Ways Forgiveness Can Be Harmful

Reasons Forgiveness Is Helpful

Applications

Conclusion

Chapter Summary Points

Review Questions

References

13 What We Have Learned and What We Hope You Will Take with You

Chapter 1: Why Religion Matters to You Right Now and in Your Future Family

Chapter 2: What in the World Is Religion?

Chapter 3: Does Religion Matter to Families?

Chapter 4: Why Does Religion Matter in Marriage?

Chapter 5: The Influence of Religious Beliefs in Marriage

Chapter 6: Parenting in Faith—What Research Has Found

Chapter 7: Parenting and American Families of Faith

Chapter 8: Muslim Families in the United States

Chapter 9: Jewish Families in the United States

Chapter 10: Religion and Diverse Family Forms

Chapter 11: How Religion Influences Coping with Stress and Challenges in Families

Chapter 12: Forgiveness, Faith, and Families

Three Take-Home Messages from the Religion and Families Book

Conclusion

References

Glossary

Author Index

Subject Index