The association between religious homogamy and reproduction

Fieder, Martin; Huber, Susanne

doi:10.1098/rspb.2016.0294

Cited by 22 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…For the analysed data, the rates of intermarriage between different religious groups correlated inversely with the size of an individual's religious group in the area of residence. Yet, by building up genetic ties across religious borders via conjoint offspring, religiously heterogamous couples (albeit of lower fertility; Fieder & Huber, 2016) foster social cohesion as family members have genetic ties even if 'separated' by religion. In such newly formed families co-operation will increase according to Hamilton's rules of 'kin selection', whichin a long-term perspectivemay act as a safeguard for social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do birds of a feather flock together? Factors for religious heterogamy

2019

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Social cohesion – particularly with regard to the integration of migrants – is primarily measured in terms of education, labour market participation, unemployment, income levels and poverty. When seen from a historical long-term perspective (considering the migrations of Homo sapiens in the past 300,000 years) admixture merged members of diverse groups and forged – in addition to social ties – ‘strong biological ties’ of kinship, proposing that religious heterogamy is a long-term layer of social cohesion. Accordingly, this study investigated, on the basis of more than 600,000 men and women aged 26–35 years from Austria 2001, Germany (West) 1987, Ireland 2011, Portugal 2011, Romania 2011 and Switzerland 2000, which demographic characteristics foster religious heterogamy, controlling for various confounding factors using linear mixed modelling. By far the most important factor explaining religious heterogamy was the share of adherents to an individual’s religious group in their area of residence. It can be concluded that the rate of intermarriage declines with the increasing size of an individual’s religious group in their area of residence. From a long-term perspective the lack of familial ties (and conjoint offspring) between religious groups could lead to a lack of social cohesion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do birds of a feather flock together? Factors for religious heterogamy

2019

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“…Only recently, we demonstrated that religious homogamy decreases the chances to remain childless and is also positively associated with a woman's number of children in most but not all analyzed countries, the association strengthening as a woman's education increases (Fieder and Huber, 2016). In that study, where we likewise analyzed worldwide census data together with data form the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, also educational homogamy was positively associated with number of children.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Worldwide Census Data Reveal Prevalence of Educational Homogamy and Its Effect on Childlessness

Huber

Fieder

2016

Front. Sociol.

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In a former study based on US census data, we found that educational homogamy is common and reduces the odds to remain childless. This study takes the next step and examines the prevalence of educational homogamy and its association with childlessness as well as the number of children on a worldwide basis. We analyzed census data from 41 different countries encompassing a total of 2,179,736 married women. In all investigated countries, the prevalence of educational homogamy is high. Furthermore, educational homogamy is not associated with a woman's average number of children, which generally increases with decreasing education. This is not the case as regards childlessness, however, which is usually reduced by a combination of moderate female hypergamy and homogamy. We conclude that educational homogamy is a universal phenomenon. We discuss that, together with its effects on childlessness, this may have consequences going beyond the individual to include the level of society and population genetics.

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“…And yet, alongside this, and in complex relationship with it, has been a strong affirmation of family life both in the New Testament witness (e.g., 1 Timothy 5: 4, 8), and in later Catholic magisterial texts. Contemporary Catholic teaching continues to extol the blessings of a large family (Catechism of the Catholic Church §2373); more generally, the Church has encouraged family life and provided ritual and celebratory forms for families (Fieder and Huber ; Ellis et al. ).…”

Section: Secularization and Fertility Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cultural Evolutionary Approach to Modernity: What Might It Mean for Christian Faith?

Patterson¹

2020

Zygon

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This essay introduces, for theological consideration, some recent work in the field of cultural evolutionary theory, specifically the kin-influence hypothesis. This theory holds that, following the beginnings of industrialization and economic growth, a nation's fertility rate commences a decline, which is further abetted by the consequent and increasing imbalance in the relative influence of kin versus nonkin influences on individuals in favor of the latter. It is further proposed that this process is itself a major independent factor in the emergence of many of the features of what is called modernity, among which is that of secularization. Extending further this work, I argue that, given the historic alignment of family and religious values in Christian nations, a loss of religious belief and practice is, at least in part, the spill over effect of the opposing influence of values emerging from ever more dominant nonfamily social interaction. I conclude with some reflections on possible theological implications.

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The association between religious homogamy and reproduction

Cited by 22 publications

References 68 publications

Do birds of a feather flock together? Factors for religious heterogamy

Do birds of a feather flock together? Factors for religious heterogamy

Worldwide Census Data Reveal Prevalence of Educational Homogamy and Its Effect on Childlessness

A Cultural Evolutionary Approach to Modernity: What Might It Mean for Christian Faith?

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