Religion and Families: An Introduction

• 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.