| While religion is faulted for many things that ail the | | | | adopted. |
| human race, it is doubtful if there would still be a | | | | Where newly wed spouses have leanings towards |
| human race as we know it today if it had not been | | | | different expressions they may wish to consider a |
| for religion. Many of the most useful things in | | | | third statement because learning the way of a new |
| societies across the planet exist because of the | | | | religion together will help in binding them closer |
| impact of religion in preserving those societies from | | | | together. Where religion does not play a role in the |
| the dawn of civilization. In one way or another, newly | | | | life of either spouse, it will be their concern to find |
| weds will have to deal with the factor of religion. | | | | things that pull them closer together as a couple, like |
| You may have had a religious component to your | | | | concern for the elderly or some other form of |
| marriage, or you may have decided against such a | | | | altruism. |
| component. Either way, you have taken a religious | | | | Consider also the different views concerning children |
| stance. Do not be fixed on either stance, because | | | | held by the religions involved. Some outlooks are |
| life, while having constants, also has elements that | | | | easier to work with than others on this subject. |
| change depending on the quality and character of | | | | Partners should study these differing interests well |
| your journey together as newly weds. You may go | | | | before committing themselves and their children to |
| through periods of being totally devoted to a | | | | an untenable stance and where the marriage so |
| particular religious expression and periods devoid of | | | | requires, to move in the direction of a stance that |
| such devotion. Whether its the one or the other your | | | | favors both parents and children. |
| marriage comes first and whatever stance promotes | | | | On the other hand, for both traditionalists and |
| the well-being of the marriage, that is the stance | | | | moderns, religion can be a great source of help |
| which will embrace your focus. | | | | concerning many aspects of life, including marriage. |
| In some parts of the world religion is everything, | | | | Help can come from unexpected quarters particularly |
| while in other parts of the world is just something | | | | during the early stages of a marriage. There will be |
| else to be accepted or rejected. A traditional | | | | plenty of help, not just from the leadership of |
| understanding of marriage will often go hand-in-hand | | | | organized religions, but from lay people as well, on |
| with the local religious view of marriage. Where | | | | many frontiers a new marriage will encounter. Use |
| traditional religious views have become diluted it may | | | | whatever help is available to fashion the kind of |
| be more a 'matter of taste' for the newly weds and | | | | marriage you want. |
| a 'hands-off-taste' may be just acceptable as a | | | | Should you decide as newly weds to embrace |
| 'hands-on-taste'. This is something to be remembered | | | | different religious expressions then it would be to |
| if there are any plans to move to another country | | | | your advantage if the one assists the other to the |
| because your new local customs may not be 'like | | | | best of his or her ability to be a knowledgeable |
| home', which does not necessarily mean that folk in | | | | practitioner of those things which promote the |
| the new location are irreligious, merely that they are | | | | marriage. This kind of approach can help bring the |
| different. | | | | best of both expressions to focus on one thing |
| Religion can be awfully destructive and rip a marriage | | | | important to both spouses. Sensitivity of an |
| apart before it has time to take a breather, or it can | | | | extraordinary level will be required to make this kind |
| be the thing that cements a marriage more than | | | | of arrangement work to the benefit of both newly |
| anything else! Know yourselves! This dictum is crucial. | | | | weds. Where necessary, the advice of skilled |
| If religion does not play a part in your individual, then | | | | counselors on both sides should be embraced to |
| don't force it into your marriage. If religion does play | | | | focus on the marriage. The level of sensitivity will |
| a role in your individual lives, then don't deny it in your | | | | increase if there are children, natural or adopted, to |
| marriage, and be absolutely sure as to the impact | | | | crown the marriage. This facet of the marriage will |
| religion will have on your future children, natural or | | | | definitely need the help of skilled counselors. |