Abstract:
In countries like Ethiopia wherein religion is exorbitant, interfaith marriage is more of an
exception than a norm. Despite the rise of interfaith marriages both at global and national levels,
studies on interfaith families are scant. This study explored the lives of interfaith families
focusing on reasons why couples entered into interfaith marriages, interactions of families of
interfaith marriage, challenges of interfaith marriage, and coping mechanisms in Bahir Dar City
Administration. This study employed qualitative approach and case study design. Study
participants were selected through purposive sampling technique. Four couples were identified
by a religiosity measuring questionnaire. In-depth interviews were conducted with them all and
with a relative to each, and key informant interviews were undertaken with three religious
fathers. Data were analyzed using thematic interpretative analysis assisted by a software called
Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA). The research findings revealed that couples entered into
interfaith marriage prompted by several factors including falling in love, holding affirmative
dispositions towards a spouse’s faith, cherishing mutual economic support, and anticipating
spouse’s conversion. Interactions among members of interfaith families were dual-faced.
Effective spousal communications, keen tolerance and respect with in-laws, relatives and
significant others, and unreserved family support characterized favorable interactions whereas
recurring anomalies, exaggerated faith-oriented demands from a spouse, and perplexing
communications typified unfavorable interactions, which were relatively predominant. The
couples in those families faced such psychological and spousal challenges as feeling of guilt,
separation, and concession, mutual suspicion, disagreement over decision making, and budgeting
money and time. They also faced defies regarding food preparation, raising children, and
maintaining religious identity. To cope with these challenges, couples adopted various strategies
such as planning ahead anticipating possible stressors, relinquishing demands, and learning
spouses’ religious traditions. It was concluded that couples’ reasons to enter interfaith marriages
fed up each other ultimately giving way to gaining the courage to counter-stand challenges.
Mainly due to a call of dissimilar values to the union, interfaith families were living in
dissonance which was sometimes appeased by effective communications and keen tolerance. As
implications, this study may help micro-social work practitioners working with couples and
families to develop intervention strategies by informing various social work approaches, models
and theories including family systems theory, family therapy, couples’ social work, and personin-environment.
And,
such
areas
of
future
research
as
prospects
of interfaith
marriage
can
be
embarked
on.
Key words: Interfaith marriage, prompting reasons, family interactions, challenges, coping
mechanisms, Bahir Dar