UNEQUALLY YOKEDHow do our Religious Beliefs Affect

our Relationship Choices?By: Leah Wood

BACKGROUND STUDIESWilcox and Wolfinger’s (UNC) research found that fidelity rates and corresponding success rates were found in religious organizations because of social connections, solid faith, expected traits from the religion and many others (Wilcox, 2008).

Smith and Denton found in their nation-wide study that teens often become closer friends with those who share the same faith as they do (Smith, 2005).

BACKGROUND STUDIESAlthough many religions are against it, divorce still happens

Robinson, 2009

PURPOSETo survey how the modern college student feels about religion affecting his or her relationship (Marriage, Dating, Friendship)

HYPOTHESIS1. Friendship will not be hindered by Religion

2. People will not want to date outside of their Religion

3. People will be opposed to marrying outside of their Religion

My SurveyDistributed to 100 college students

Both KSU and other colleges

2 open-ended questions, 1 rating question, and 7 multiple choice

QUESTION 1:Classification question- “Please identify your religious affiliation”

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2-4:Question 2- How often do you participate in religious activities?Question 3- Has a parent/guardian influenced your religious decisions?Question 4- Would you consider being friends with someone even if they had a different belief system?

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 3

QUESTION 4

100% said Yes!

QUESTION 4Participants said yes, but they set limitations to friendship-

Some wanted to use the opportunity of this new friend to share their own religion and impact his or her life.

QUESTION 5-6:5- Would you date someone of another religion?6- Rate the importance of each factor in a relationship

QUESTION 5

QUESTION 6

97.3%

75.6%

QUESTION 7:7- Has a person in authority ever told you to date someone of the same religion?

QUESTION 7

QUESTION 8-9:8- Would you consider marrying someone of a different religion?9- Do you think Religion is important in a marriage?

QUESTION 8

COMPAREDATING MARRIAGE

More Religiously Open More Religiously Closed

QUESTION 9The majority of responses said that religion is important in a marriage.Some gave examples of mixed marriages

Interestingly, 1/3 of my responses mentioned children

QUESTION 10

10- Is religion a factor when considering sexual activity?

yesno

QUESTION 10

OTHER

MORALITY UNSURITY

72.22%19.44%

8.33%

SO… How does all of this

relate to me?

The creation of the self has a lot to do with the way you feel about your self, your life, AND your relationships.

When it comes to marriage, many end in divorce.

What if religious correlation aided the success of your relationship?

Rev. Terrel of Washington has “observed shared beliefs as a source of marital unity” (St. George, 2010).

Renowned motivational speaker and author, Paul Vitale, said, “What we do flows from who we are.”

If we are of a certain faith, wouldn’t it make sense to follow our selves even in relationships?

In Conclusion:

1. It is possible to Coexist religiously in a friendship2. It is probable that people will date outside of their religion despite authority3. It is not probable that marriage based in separate religions will be successful or wise.

QUESTIONS?

www.unequallyyoked.weebly.com

ReferencesHarris, M. (2010, September 25). A marriage built on love alone is not so solid; Traditional values, shared social networks help keep couples together, researchers find. The Gazette,G.7. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from

http://proxygsu-ken1.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb/?did=210

7481001&Fmt=3&clientId=16627&RQT=309&VName=PQDRegnerus, M. D.(2007). Can Religion cause Behavior?. In Forbidden Fruit: Sex &Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers (pp.43-56). Oxford, NY: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS. Robinson, B. A. (2009). Divorce and remarriage: U.S. divorce rates for various faith groups, age groups, & geographic areas. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htmSmith, C., & Denton, M. L. (2005). Mapping the Big Picture. In Soul searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers (pp. 30-71). Oxford, NY: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESSSt. George, D. (2010, August 12). Faith affects couples' happiness, study says; Black partners are more likely to attend services than whites, Hispanics. The Washington Post, p. B.1. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/

2010/08/11/AR2010081101961.html?hpid=sec-religionWaite L. J., & Lehrer E. L. (2003, June). The Benefits from Marriage and Religion in the United States: A Comparative Analysis. NIHPA Author Manuscripts. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2614329/ Wolfinger, N., & Wilcox, W.. (2008). Happily Ever After? Religion, Marital Status, Gender and Relationship Quality in Urban Families. Social Forces, 86(3), 1311- 1337.  Retrieved October 5, 2010, from http://proxygsu-

ken1.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb/?did=210 7481001&Fmt=3&clientId=16627&RQT=309&VName=PQD

All graphs from http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraphSurvey results from surveymonkey.comCoexist picture- http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs20/f/2007/230/2/a/Coexist_by_Chima.png