Overview

This is the first multidisciplinary text to address the growing scholarly connection between religion and family life. The latest literature from family studies, psychology, sociology, and religion is reviewed along with narratives drawn from interviews with 200 racially, religiously, and regionally diverse families which bring the concepts to life. Written in a thought-provoking, accessible, and sometimes humorous style by two of the leading researchers in the field, the book reflects the authors’ firsthand experience in teaching today’s students about religion’s impact on families. Prior to writing the book, the authors read the sacred texts of many faiths, interviewed religious leaders, and attended religious services for a wide array of faiths. The result is an accurate and engaging account of why and how families are impacted by their religion. The pedagogical features of the text include boldfaced key terms defined in the glossary, text boxes, chapter conclusions, summary points, and review questions. Religion and Families: Examines several denominations within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Reviews findings from racially and ethnically diverse families, from traditional and diverse family forms, and examines gender and life-course issues. Addresses the impact of one’s religious involvement on longevity, divorce rates, and parenting styles. Considers demographic, family-, couple-, and individual-level data that relate to prayer and other sacred practices. Presents a balanced treatment of the latest research and a new model for studying family and religion. Explores the ""whys,"" ""hows,"" and processes at work in the religion-family connection. The book opens with a discussion of why religion and family connections matter. Chapter 2 defines religion and presents a new conceptualization of religion. Empirical research connections between religion and marriage, divorce, family, and parent-child relationships are explored in chapters 3 through 6. The interface between religion and the family in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are reviewed in chapters 7, 8, and 9. Chapter 10 explores the unique challenges that religion presents for diverse family forms. Prayer as a coping mechanism for life’s challenges such as death and disability are explored in chapter 11. Chapter 12 examines forgiveness in the context of marriages and families. The book concludes with a review of the book’s most important themes and findings. Intended as a text for undergraduate courses in family and religion, the psychology or sociology of the family, the psychology or sociology of religion, pastoral/biblical counseling, or family and youth ministry, taught in human development and family studies, psychology, sociology, religion, social work, pastoral counseling, and sometimes philosophy. This book also appeals to family therapists and counselors.

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9781848725461

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Reviews

This is a book that is very much needed... Marks and Dollahite are well-known in the field. ... I like the writing style for undergraduates. ...This will be the first book ... [to] provide a comprehensive overview of the current research on religion and families. ...This book will set the standard for the field. ... I would adopt it, and I would recommend it to my colleagues. ...The multi-disciplinary approach will make the book attractive to a variety of disciplines. - Joanne Roberts, Hardin Simmons University, USA The authors' clarity ... makes this text accessible to even the introductory undergraduate audience. ... The availability of a comprehensive text ... would make it easier for me (and others) to propose ... a course for future terms. ... The authors' ... provide comprehensive coverage of a broad range of important aspects of religion in families and ... they ... do so for a very broad range of religions. ...The authors' ... present complex ... topics in a very accessible, enjoyable, interesting, and informative manner. - Matthew Murdoch, Carleton University, Canada There is a need for this book - I remember trying to teach a class on religion and the family some years ago and it was very frustrating because of the lack of a basic text. ... I would be very likely to recommend it to colleagues and to use it myself for some of my classes. ... It is well written, easy to read, [and] maintains reader interest. - Walter Schumm, Kansas State University, USA I do not know of any equivalent book on the market today. ... It fills a complete void in a subject area that is becoming increasingly important ... and the authors are some of the most qualified to deal with this topic. ... It makes a significant contribution to the field. ... I look forward to developing a course that I can use the book in as a text. ... The information was presented clearly ... without being simplistic. ... The authors keep the material interesting, not an easy task for what can be an abstract and complex subject. - Joe Wilmoth, Mississippi State University, USA The intersection of religion and family has been quietly simmering for several decades. This empirical work will generate more interest in teaching undergraduate classes specifically focused on religion and family. ... Loren Marks and Dave Dollahite are uniquely positioned to write this first comprehensive textbook in the area. They are both committed teachers and widely regarded as talented scholars. - Robert Milardo, Textbooks in Family Studies Series Editor, University of Maine, USA

Scholarship on families and research on religion have generally run along parallel tracks. Religion and Families builds valuable bridges across these areas with compelling evidence about religion's profound role in shaping family life today. - John P. Bartkowski, University of Texas at San Antonio Drawing from psychology, sociology, religion, and family studies, this is the first text to bridge scholarship between the fields of family and religion. Marks and Dollahite are seasoned researchers and writers with a ton of classroom teaching experience, and it shows in this delightfully written text. - Vern Bengtson, University of Southern California Marks and Dollahite have produced a gem of a text. They give admirably balanced attention to the positive and negative roles of religious beliefs, practices, and communities in shaping intimate relationships, parenting, and other facets of family life. - Christopher G. Ellison, University of Texas at San Antonio Marks and Dollahite provide needed insights on the role of religious beliefs and practices in studies of families. Through an engaging writing style, they intersect two of the most important social spheres in American life. - Patricia Snell Herzog, University of Arkansas Marks and Dollahite address the BIG questions of life and faith in this well-crafted, practical text that integrates the latest developmental and family research with insightful discourse on the lived experiences of diverse people. - Rob Palkovitz, University of Delaware

Author Information

Loren D. Marks is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and co-director of the American Families of Faith research project. David C. Dollahite is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and co-director of the American Families of Faith research project.

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