Religion in marriage

Dewi Cooke writes in The Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/national/religion-less-crucial-in-wedlock-20090719-dpla.html, July 20, 2009) that more Australians are marrying outside their religion. The article is based on Monash University research which has found Christians have the highest rates of intermarriage, particularly with other Christian denominations. On the other hand, "emerging religions" such as Hinduism and Islam have the lowest.

Among Christians, Presbyterians (60%) are most prone to marrying someone of another faith, with Catholics down at 37%. Anglicans and Uniting Church members were a little higher at 41% and 43%.

Hindus and Muslims fitted in under the 10% level.

This does not necessarily mean that Hindus and Muslism are not good mixers, but reflects their more recent arrival in Australia. Succeeding generations may be more relaxed about intermarriage, according to researchers.

The newspaper report does not distinguish clearly between real inter-religious marriage (Christian and Hindu, for example) and mere inter-denominational marriage. A Presbyterian and a Baptist may see themselves as differing only in preferred style of worship service, for example, while the gap between a Pentecostal and a Muslim is necessarily vast.

With what Reformed historian, Martin Marty refers to as the "baptistification" of the church, denominational boundaries, never particularly strong, have weakened even at points such as that between Catholics and Protestants. This was once a very difficult barrier to cross.

Many more Catholics talk openly about their conversion experience or being born again, language previously often limited to evangelical Christians.

Evangelicals would often consider that experience a more important thing to share than a denominational label.

Another factor not addressed is the distinction between nominalism and genuine adherence to a faith community. An Anglican who attends church at Easter and Christmas may, in practical terms, be little different from his or her atheist partner, who doesn't see the point when it comes to God, but is willing to live and let live when it comes to believers.

Although the research is interesting, and may have implications for newly arrived religions in Australia, it does not answer many of the basic questions about faith in a secular society.