Naomi Schaefer Riley's new book, "'Til Faith Do Us Part," looks at why interfaith marriages are becoming more common and how to make them work.; Credit: 'Til Faith Do Us Part bookcover
Author Naomi Schaefer Riley’s new book, “’Til Faith Do Us Part: How Interfaith Marriage is Transforming America,” examines why interfaith marriages are becoming more common but sometimes end in unhappiness and divorce.
In a national study that Riley commissioned, she found that over 40% of marriages are between people who hold different religious beliefs. Her study showed that Jews are the most likely to marry people of other faiths and Mormons are the least likely. But the most interesting finding is that interfaith couples are generally more unhappy and unstable than marriages where only one belief is involved. Couples with different political affiliations are happier than those with different religious beliefs.
In an interfaith marriage herself, Riley is a Conservative Jew married to a former Jehovah’s Witness. She admits that it’s been tough. Interfaith couples most often run into difficulties when raising children, and Riley says interfaith marriages may be why less young Americans identify themselves with a religion.
Why are interfaith marriages becoming more common? If you’re in an interfaith union, what has your experience been? What are the struggles involved?
Guest:
Naomi Schaefer Riley, author of “’Til Faith Do Us Part: How Interfaith Marriage is Transforming America” (Oxford University Press), former Wall Street Journal editor and writer
Naomi’s holding a panel discussion in LA about interfaith marriage: Sunday, April 14th, from noon-1:15 PM at the Islamic Center of Southern California. Click here to RSVP.