Interfaith Weddings: Beating the Odds

When the poet, Virgil, coined the phrase “love conquers all” over 2000 years ago, perhaps he didn't have interfaith marriages in mind.  Indeed, there is nothing that can put this phrase to the test any more so than a relationship between a couple who share a bond of love but do not share a common religious heritage.  On the other hand, when an interfaith marriage works, it can be a beautiful thing—a microcosm of what the world might be if we didn't allow religious differences to divide us.

Fortunately, we are seeing a shift in social and cultural norms that appear to be breaking down (or at least going around) many of the religious barriers that have all too often interfered with matters of the heart.  According to Naomi Schaefer Riley, author of the book ’Til Faith Do Us Part: How Interfaith Marriage is Transforming America, marriage between couples of differing faiths is on the rise.  Compared to the 1960s, when 20 percent of married couples did not share a common religion, 45 percent of married couples now fit this description.  This is certainly encouraging, but according to Riley there is also a downside: on average, the divorce rate among interfaith couples is considerably higher than that of couples who share the same religion … up to 30 percent higher, depending on the blend of religions involved.

Although the divorce statistics are perhaps unsettling, they are not particularly helpful.  In fact, they may be harmful if they are misunderstood and misused.  They don’t, for instance, say anything about the two of you as a couple … about your chances of a successful marriage if you happen not to share a common religion.  Nevertheless, people who are naive about the way statistics work can easily read more into the numbers than they are able to reveal.  For instance, when The Dallas Morning News invited various members of the clergy to react to Naomi Schafer Riley’s book, here is how one theologian began his response:

“According to Riley’s research, interfaith couples are less happy in their marriages than same-faith couples.  In my view, there’s a simple reason for that fact.”

Unfortunately, this statement is a rather serious misrepresentation of what the research revealed.  First of all, as any statistician will tell you, statistics do not prove anything—at best they may support a particular theory or proposition.  By asserting that the first statement is a “fact,” this theologian is not being factual.  But this is a minor sin compared to the greater transgression committed by this gentleman.  In stating that the research reveals that “interfaith couples are less happy in their marriages than same-faith couples” he is essentially saying that all interfaith couples are less happy than all same-faith couples—and that is simply not true!  Whether the misstatement was intentional or not, I can’t say, but I feel sure there are others who would interpret the numbers the same way—perhaps a well-meaning friend or family member who is hoping to dissuade you from getting married.  I can’t stress enough that the divorce statistics are based on samples and averages.  They don’t say anything about the likelihood of a successful marriage in a particular case.

Couples who are deeply in love and committed to one another don’t tend to base their decision to get married on statistics.  Nor should they!  Why?  Because if Americans were to base their decision to get married on divorce statistics alone, there would probably be half as many marriages across the board as there are now.  After all, based on statistics alone, the odds of a long-term marriage are roughly equivalent to that of a coin toss. 

I submit that beating the odds in an interfaith marriage is not a lot different from beating the odds in any marriage.  That’s not to say that religious differences don’t matter, or that you should bury your head in the sand and hope that any problems that might arise regarding your religious beliefs will take care of themselves.  I’m simply saying that religious differences are a bigger deal to some couples than they are to others.  Not to trivialize the issue, but some couples will experience problems if he is a PC user and she is a Mac user.  Disposition, tolerance, personality, mutual-respect, devotion to one another … these are the kind of difference-makers that will be more influential than religious differences in determining the long-term success of a marriage.  In fact, they are more significant and more meaningful than simple demographic differences of every kind, whether they pertain to cultural differences, racial differences, class differences, political differences, etc.

More helpful than the statistics is specific information on why some interfaith marriages succeed and others don’t.  Aside from being deeply in love and desirous of spending your life together, here is a short list of critical success factors that pertain to interfaith marriages:

• You and your partner have compatible personalities, dispositions, and goals for your marriage
• You and your partner have mutual respect for one another and are each committed to allowing the other the freedom to make personal choices concerning religious matters
• You and your partner are united in your resolve to stand up to parents, friends, extended family members, etc. when and if they try to pressure you to adhere to their religious ideals and practices
• You and your partner are in agreement on how you will observe religious holidays and other religious observations that could affect you jointly
• You and your partner have discussed and have worked out a solution that is agreeable to both of you concerning the role that religion will play in raising your children, including what religious doctrines, rituals, and traditions you do and do not wish them to be exposed to

I also recommend premarital counseling, regardless of your situation, but especially if you and your partner do not share a common faith.  But be careful whose guidance you seek.  If you are looking for a non-biased perspective on how to deal with the challenges of an interfaith marriage, you aren't likely to get that from a member of the clergy. 

Who is That "Third" Person in Your Wedding Photos?

Your wedding ceremony is over, your photos are back, and you and your partner are sitting down to look over the photos, basking in the afterglow while reliving this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.  There you are in photo after photo, looking adoringly at each other—perhaps with tears of joy in your eyes—saying your vows, exchanging rings, and performing the special rituals you have chosen to include in your ceremony.  For sure, a defining moment in your relationship! 

As you look at the photos your focus, at least initially, is naturally on the two of you—after all, it was your Special Day!  But as you broaden you view you also notice that standing between the two of you in virtually every photo is another person—the individual you chose to officiate your ceremony. 

For some couples the “choice” of who performs this important role is not a “choice” at all … by default it is their pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, or other official affiliated with their religion.  But for many contemporary couples—those who are not affiliated with a religious order or simply don’t want a “religious wedding”—the officiant is a person they have hand-picked for the job.  The criteria will differ, but seldom is “cost” the determining factor—after all, Uncle Bob, the retired Baptist preacher, will probably officiate your ceremony free of charge … as long as you don’t try to tell him what to say and not to say!  After all, Uncle Bob is a former evangelical preacher and “saving souls” is what he is programmed to do … and he would not want to miss an opportunity to “witness” to a captive audience.

Okay, perhaps that’s a bit of an overstatement about Uncle Bob, he may be a perfectly nice guy, but you get my drift.  You choose an officiant because that individual is the right person for the job.  In fact, if you were to ask me who provides the most important supporting role in a wedding ceremony, I would say “the officiant.”  Granted, I may be biased because I am one, but please hear me out.

As a minimum, a wedding requires the participation of three individuals—the bride, the groom, and the officiant.  But that alone doesn't make the case for why the choice of an officiant is critical.  After all, couples who choose the elopement route are often less concerned about who ties the knot than getting it done and done fast—they simply want someone to “make it legal.”  While there are valid reasons for wanting (or needing) to elope, most would agree that the courthouse is not a conducive setting for a romantic, heart-warming wedding.

So, if the conditions of “romantic” and “heartwarming” are added to the mix we are talking about a totally different kind of wedding, and consequently, a totally different set of criteria for choosing an officiant.  Why so?  For the simple reason that the officiant is the literal “voice” of your ceremony.  As a result, he or she plays a key role in setting the tone for your entire ceremony.  Furthermore, this individual should be more than a narrator who simply reads your vows.  She or he should exude an aura, a presence, a charisma that personifies the expression of love and joy you want your ceremony to be remembered for—the warm-tummy feeling you wish to stay with you (and everyone who shares this special day with you) long after the ceremony is over.  And I remind you again, this individual will be “front and center” in almost every photo that is taken during your ceremony.

But as important as they are, “romantic” and “heartwarming” are only two of a number of other criteria you will likely want and need to consider.  For instance, you will probably want to seek out and find an officiant who is sensitive to your personal beliefs and values—one who will not use the occasion (intentionally or not) as a forum for lecturing, or worse, as an opportunity to “sermonize” to a captive audience, a la Uncle Bob.  The latter is a fear that couples often express when they meet with us early on, sometimes citing with horror an instance they are aware of where this very thing occurred.

While there is no guarantee that the officiant won’t “go off script” and interject unwanted remarks during the ceremony—though I’m not suggesting you want an automaton either—there are some precautions you can take during the vetting process that may lessen the likelihood of this happening.  If, for instance, you and your partner do not consider yourselves to be “religious,” then you might want to steer clear of an officiant who identifies himself or herself by a religious title, such as “Reverend” or “Father.”  Or, if the two of you consider yourselves to be “religious” but do not share a common religious heritage, be aware that some religious orders take a dim view of interfaith marriages, and as a result their clerics may impose “rules and conditions” that may cut against the grain of one or both of you.  The officiant’s website may also have language that reveals a lot about his or her personal philosophy in areas that matter to you.  For instance, in our case we describe our officiating services as appealing to couples who might describe themselves as “spiritual, but not necessarily religious.”  This is a brief characterization that makes a statement about us, but it also hits a nerve with many contemporary couples.  Consequently, couples who want a traditional “church wedding” are not likely to seek out our services—and we are okay with that.  After all, no officiant should set herself or himself up to be all things to all people. 

Because of the special role performed by the officiant, choosing the person who is right for you is not a trivial pursuit.  My advice is that you place this important task at the top of your to-do check list.  In the mean time, if you’d like a helpful list of suggestions on what to look when selecting an officiant, check out this webpage: http://www.pneumacenter.com/Officiant.htm