Family

Abstract

This chapter stresses the importance of cultural and lived religious perspectives in studying the intersection of family, religion, and spirituality by calling attention to recent works that address religion and marriage, parenting, and work/family issues. It urges scholars to see religion as an influential force in everyday experience and highlights the importance of local religious culture and sacred resources as active in the transformation of normative understandings of family and intimate partnerships. The chapter also encourages those engaged in the sociological analysis of family life to treat religion and spirituality as dynamic forces that shape people’s beliefs and identities, rather than static background information.