Forsaking All Others: How Religious Involvement Promotes Marital Fidelity in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Couples

Keywords

fidelity, marriage, Abrahamic religion, Christianity, Judaism, Islam

Abstract

This study reports results from in-depth interviews with 57 highly religious, middle-aged married couples from the major Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) living in New England and Northern California. Grounded theory was employed to create a conceptual model describing the ways that religious couples draw on their beliefs and practices to stay faithful to their marital vows. Couples reported that religion promoted marital fidelity in four important ways: (1) religious belief and practice sanctified their marriage and thereby improved marital quality, which indirectly promoted fidelity; (2) religious vows and involvement fortified marital commitment to fidelity; (3) religion strengthened couples' moral values, which promoted fidelity in marriage; (4) religious involvement improved spouses' relationship with God, which encouraged them to avoid actions such as infidelity that they believed would displease God.

Original Publication Citation

Dollahite, D. C., & Lambert, N. M. (2007). Forsaking all others: How religious involvement promotes marital fidelity in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim couples. Review of Religious Research, 48, 290-307.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2007-3

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7780

Publisher

Review of Religious Research

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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