PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS

Why This Project? | Highlights 01

Why the American Families of Faith Project: Enriching & Strengthening Families

In the social sciences there tends to be a focus on weaknesses and why things go wrong. The American Families of Faith Project brings a much needed balance to the study of marriages and families by focusing on the features and origins of relational strengths and health.

What is Holy Envy? | Highlights 02

Dr. Loren Marks and Dr. David Dollahite, co-directors of the American Families of Faith project, share thoughts about how their study of various families of faith has led them to a sense of deep admiration or “holy envy” for religious practices from other faiths.

The "empathy wall" is an obstacle to a deep understanding of someone else that can make us feel indifferent or even hostile to those that hold different beliefs.

Our hope religiously, is that we will be able to foster and facilitate a deeper understanding of how persons and families in eight different faith communities live their lives. We strive to climb the "empathy wall" and hope you join us in developing a deep respect and "holy envy": to see in someone else, attributes and elements that others can envy in a holy, or righteous, kind of way.

Holy Envy: Jewish Families | Highlights 03

Dr. David Dollahite, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, shares his thoughts on the familial power of sacred rituals among Jewish families. Through many wonderful experiences of participating in Shabbat observance with Jewish families, he has developed a deep sense of "holy envy."

Holy Envy: Asian Christian Families | Highlights 04

Dr. Loren Marks, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, reflects on his "holy envy" for Asian Christian families in the United States. Their courage to embrace change in a new land, sincerely follow their beliefs, and serve through pragmatic collectivism are a few of the strengths to be admired among the Asian Christian community.

Holy Envy: Catholic & Orthodox Christian Families | Highlights 05

Dr. David Dollahite, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, reflects on his sense of "holy envy" for Catholic and Orthodox Christian families in the United States. A simple, regular, patterned approach to asking and granting forgiveness smooths relationships within many of these families.

Holy Envy: Black Christian Families | Highlights 06

Dr. Loren Marks, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, reflects on his deep respect and "holy envy" for Black Christian families in the United States. Many of these families shared a profoundly deep and living faith in a God that hears and sustains them during poignant challenges.

Holy Envy: Evangelical Christian Families | Highlights 07

Dr. David Dollahite, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, shares his feelings of respect, appreciation, and "holy envy" for Evangelical Christian families in the United States. Many of the Evangelical participants interviewed spoke of their views on servant leadership within families and of their focus on the word of God found in the Bible.

Holy Envy: Muslim Families | Highlights 08

Dr. Loren Marks, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, shares his deep respect and "holy envy" for Muslim families in the United States. Particularly, the combination of Ramadan and zakat inspires a hope for a better world.

Holy Envy: Mainline Protestant Families | Highlights 09

Dr. David Dollahite, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, reflects on his deep respect and "holy envy" for Mainline Protestant families in the United States. Many of these families repeatedly discussed their belief that "God is love." Loving God and neighbor are two core religious beliefs and values for them, which they often live out in inspiring and pragmatic ways.