Posted on: Friday, January 4, 2002

Mixed-faith marriages may be increasing

USA Today

Religious differences are no longer an obstacle to marriage. Today, experts say, faith is just another lifestyle choice.

"Once, if people weren't the same faith, it would be seen as a weakness in the marriage. Now, everyone says, 'You be who you want, and I'll be whoever I was meant to be,'" says religion researcher George Barna. Many brides and grooms are children of interfaith families themselves.

But Christian radio host Hugh Hewitt observes that conservative religions, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are less likely to be mixed. "Nonexclusive groups" such as Buddhists or Episcopalians tolerate mixed marriages more, Hewitt says.

Children of mixed-faith couples may have more choices for their own religious identities, says David Roozen, director of Hartford Seminary's Institute for Religion Research.