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School of Family Life
American Families of Faith Project

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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.
6:10
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What is Holy Envy: Climbing the Empathy Wall

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.
8:37
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American Families Of Faith

The American Families of Faith Project is a national research project led by David C. Dollahite, PhD and Loren D. Marks, PhD, both professors of family life at Brigham Young University. Dr. Dollahite and Dr. Marks and a number of key collaborators, including students, interview couples and families from various ethnic, national, and religious cultures.
2:46
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The importance of faith in family units | with David

Saints Unscripted Interview: Dave Dollahite, a good friend of Saints Unscripted, joins us today to talk about his most recent scholarly project, the American Families of Faith Project. David, along with his colleague Loren Marks, have conducted extensive research in the field of families of faith. Their research includes the study of many different families of different religions. Today on Saints Unscripted, Dave specifically answers questions about raising a family in faith, exposing children to different religions, and how to develop holy envy. Thanks so much for joining us, Dave!!
21:29
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Why families should be centered on faith | with Loren Marks

We are elated to sit down with Loren Marks and hear his thoughts on the impact of a home-centered gospel. Loren has been studying the impact of faith on family for decades. In this episode, he discusses the content of his book, Home-Centered Gospel Learning and Living.
19:42
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Holy Envy - Diverse Families of Faith

Most videos available on the American Families of Faith YouTube channel feature our friends of other faiths describing how they live their faith. In these videos, we briefly share what we deeply admire about our friends of other faiths, what has led us to experience a sense of “holy envy” toward them and their faiths.

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Holy Envy: Jewish Families

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."
3:35
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Holy Envy: Asian Christian Families

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.
7:03
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Holy Envy: Catholic & Orthodox Christian Families

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.
5:18
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Holy Envy: Black Christian Families

Dr. Loren Marks, co-director of the American Families of Faith project, discusses his "holy envy" for Black Christian families in the United States. From in-depth interviews with participants, he came to deeply admire their deep and living faith in a God that reportedly heard and sustained them through poignant challenges.
3:55
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Holy Envy: Evangelical Christian Families

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.
5:40
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Holy Envy: Muslim Families

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.
4:45
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Holy Envy: Mainline Protestant Families

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.
4:39
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Faith Journeys of Asian American Christian Families

The American Families of Faith Project explores the influence of religion on marital and parent-child relationships within Asian American Christian families. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 immigrant families. From those interviews, several major themes emerged from within the domains of general life strengths, relational strengths in marriage, and relational strengths in parenting. For these Asian American Christian families, faith is not only influential, it is central.
19:57
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The Shelter of Faith for Black American Christian Families

Through the American Families of Faith project we provide “insiders’ perspectives” into the lives of strong, Black families who utilize their Christianity to overcome difficult times, sustain their marriages, and cover their children and family in vibrantly experienced lived faith.
18:16
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Marriage

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Religious Involvement Can Promote Marital Strength and Fidelity

Religious beliefs, practices, and community can strengthen marriage and provide a significant protective factor against marital infidelity. What helps highly religious couples maintain a strong marriage and remain faithful in that marriage? A combination of relationship with God, strengthened moral values, improved relational quality, and a sanctified marriage.
1:08
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God's Guidance and Marriage

Are you inviting God to be a direct guide in your marriage?
1:02
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Religion Has a Positive Influence on Marital Conflict

In marriage, as in any meaningful relationship, conflict is a certainty. Religiosity can have a positive influence on marital conflict. Conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and reconciliation can all be aided through religious practices and beliefs.
1:22
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Ingredients of a Great Marriage

Some key virtues can positively influence a couple's marriage. Love, respect, patience, and forgiveness are some of the foundational ingredients that can make a great marriage.
0:51
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God is the Third Party in Marriage

During good times and difficult times, God can supply general guidance in marriage. When couples have difficult times in their marriages, they can gain strength by believing that God sanctions their marriage and remembering the times when He intervened to help their relationship.
1:02
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Developing Interpersonal Traits Can Bless Marriage

Developing interpersonal traits through religious beliefs and practices can bless your marriage. An American Families of Faith participant shares how partnering with God to focus on his personal, emotional, and intellectual traits is blessing his relationships.
1:02
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Sanctified Marriage

Religious involvement can help to sanctify your marriage. Spending sacred time together, creating a shared holy vision/purpose, developing desirable interpersonal traits, seeking and receiving divine guidance, and as a resource for resolving conflicts are all elements that can serve as a spiritual foundation for a strong marriage.
1:20
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Marriage: God is the Center

Marriages can be strengthened as spouses grow closer to God.
1:02
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Marital Unity: You Are One Unit

Religion can enhance unity in your marriage. As one unit, God can work through you as a couple.
1:02
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Shared Faith Can Stengthen Families

When asked if his marriage is influenced by Allah, a Muslim husband explained that shared faith strengthens his marriage during trials in life.
1:02
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God is the Center of Our Married Life

An Asian American Christian wife shares how she and her husband achieve oneness in marriage by working together to be closer to God.
1:02
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Shared Religious Identity and Marriage

A Jewish wife explains that sharing a religous identity with one's spouse can enrich marriage.
1:01
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Marriage is a Gift

A Muslim husband explains that believing his marriage is a gift from Allah fosters forgiveness in his marriage.
1:01
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Prayer and Marriage

An Evangelical Christian wife speaks of turning to God through prayer to strengthen her marriage and bring them closer together as a couple.
1:02
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Marriage is a Sacred Bond

A Jewish husband expresses that marriage comes with a responsibility to work through difficulties and preserve the marriage "at all costs".
1:02
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Religion and Marital Problems

1:41
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Youth

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Religious Faith: Parents Teach and Children Choose

Even in the most faithful and relationally warm families, the approach which parents take in religious education and socialization has a big impact. This video shares six tips on how to balance your desire for religious continuity with your children's agency.
1:57
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Parenting and God's Unconditional Love

As parents experience intense love and attachment for their children, many mothers and fathers begin to understand the unconditional love God has for each one of His children, including themselves.
1:02
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Sacred Sacrifices of Youth

Why are religious youth willing to sacrifice for their faith? Some youth see it as giving up something good (or bad) for something better!
1:00
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Religious Youth Make Sacred Sacrifices

Are there ways that the children in your family are asked to sacrifice for their faith? When we asked a sample of religious youth this questions, we found six areas in which they sacrificed.
2:31
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Scripture Can Build Relationships

Scripture can build parent-child relationships and help with conflict resolution within families.
1:04
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Forgiveness of God and Family Relationships

A Mainline Protestant father speaks of "the forgiveness of God" and its importance in both his marriage and in his realtionships with his children.
1:02
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Religion: Create Joy, Avoid Harm

1:56
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Talking Religion with Your Children

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Religious Beliefs & Practices

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Attending Worship Services Builds Stronger Relationships

Attending mosque, church, or synagogue as a family can positively impact your most important relationships. By focusing on what's most important during worship services, forgiveness can pave the way to stronger family relationships.
1:00
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God is Always Going to Be There

God is always there to cheer you on!
0:44
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Power of Prayer

Prayer can get you through anything and everything!
1:00
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God is in Control of Everything

You are sustained by God's care during difficult times.
1:02
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Giving Your Burdens to God

All experiences in life are in God's hands--you can give your burdens to God.
1:02
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Religion and Accountability

Religion can provide a framework for accountability in family relationships.
1:02
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Faith is Central for Many Asian American Christian Families

For some Asian American Christian families, faith is not only influential, it is central in their lives. In our research, we strive to present a strengths-based portrayal of exemplar Asian American Christian immigrant families by allowing participants to represent themselves, their marriages, their families, their faith, and their lived experience in their own voices.
1:30
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Everything is Holy

There is a holiness to the world that we can view through both faith and science. We can incorporate both as we enjoy the beauty of the world around us.
1:07
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Relationship with God & Relationship with Others

A Catholic wife reflects on the communal nature of faith and human realtionships.
1:01
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I Tell My Kids "I Love You"

A Black Christian father explains that deeply loving his children helps his family through challenging times.
1:01
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Treat Our Children the Best

Religion can help in resolving and avoiding parent-child conflict. One mother shares how the Bible's teachings has inflenced her parenting.
1:02
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Family Prayer: Building Faith and Building Family

A mother belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explains that family prayer not only builds faith, but builds family relationships.
1:06
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Embrace My Family

A Black Christian father describes how his faith and belief in God guides him to have certain expectations for himself as a husband and father.
1:05
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God Provides Peace

A Catholic father shares that "God Himself" provides peace, even during challenging times.
1:04
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