ANT101

ASSIGNMENT 1

Prepared by:

Aranya Saha

Student ID- 21103026

Date: February 24, 2023

 Interreligious Marriage, a Cultural-lag?

Marriage, often known as matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and frequently legally

recognized relationship between individuals referred to as spouses. Interfaith or mixed-religion

marriage refers to a union between individuals of different religious traditions. The idea of

marriage between people of different religions comes from ancient marriages and the spread of

cultures worldwide. According to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "Men and

women of full age, regardless of color, nationality, or religion, have the freedom to marry and

establish a family." Interreligious Marriage in Bangladesh has always been a topic of wonder to

me. In societies where religion is the fundamental organizing force, interreligious marriage is

frequently seen as a violation of the community's conventional social standards and cultural

values. This article will examine the cultural, societal, and political elements that influence

people's attitudes and behaviors regarding interreligious marriage in Bangladesh, as well as the

potential advantages and disadvantages of this practice.

To comprehend the backdrop of interreligious marriage in Bangladesh, it is necessary to explore

religion's role in society. Religion is the major structuring element in Bangladeshi culture,

influencing cultural activities, social standards, and personal identity. Islam is the most widely

practiced faith in this land of rivers, followed by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

Interreligious marriage is viewed as a danger to the social order in this context because it violates

the boundaries of religious communities and might result in friction and conflict. So, when it

comes to marriage, many Bangladeshis choose to marry someone from the same religion as

them. But marriages between people of different religions do happen.

Maintenance of religious purity is another cultural factor that influences attitudes toward

interreligious marriage. Other people's ideas or behaviors shouldn't taint a person's faith. This is

what we mean when we talk about religious purity. Marrying someone from a different faith can

be perceived as a danger to one's own faith integrity because it can spread unfamiliar ideas and

practices. Marriage between people of different faiths raises concerns that traditional religious

beliefs and practices would be lost, along with cultural identity. Moreover, social influences play

a crucial role by heavily influencing Attitudes toward interfaith marriage. Marriage represents

more than the joining of two families for many people. For many, it also signifies the joining of

two cultures. Marriage between people of different religions can potentially disrupt preexisting

social structures by weakening ties within and between families and other social groups. People

who marry outside of their religion can be shunned by their families and communities. This can

greatly affect a person's mental health and well-being if they choose to marry someone from a

different religion.

Besides, sentiments about marriage between people of different religions are shaped not only by

cultural and social elements but also by political and economic considerations. In Bangladeshi

society, religion is frequently connected with power and privilege, and marriage between people

of different religions might threaten the established power structures. For example, a marriage

between people of different religions might lead to the loss of inheritance rights and other legal

issues related to property rights. For those who marry across religious lines, this has the potential

to have far-reaching social, economic, and political consequences.

Disagreements and misunderstandings might arise when one partner has a completely distinct

religious background from the other. The theological and cultural differences between Muslims

and Hindus in Bangladesh make interfaith marriages between the two faiths especially difficult.

Additionally, Parenting difficulties can also develop in interreligious marriages, as parents may

hold diverse religious and parenting ideas and practices. This can lead to discord and stress over

issues such as religious education, cultural rituals, and raising children in a multicultural setting.

Before writing about this, I consulted and observed two Bangladeshi couples. One of them is

unmarried and the other is married. The unmarried couple is a university student. They both

belong to a private university named “ Brac University,” which is situated in Dhaka, the capital

of Bangladesh. The boy belongs to a Hindu family and is studying for his BA at the department

of ENH. On the other hand, the girl belongs to a Muslim family, studying for her BA in the

microbiology department. They have been in a relationship while around six months. In this

six-month relationship, they had to go through some struggles. Firstly, insecurities between

themself. To clarify, as they both belong to a different religions, they are scared of being cheated

by each other. They are afraid that the other person might not stay positive when it will come to

marriage. Secondly, the training they have received from their family throughout their life that

one may not marry a person from another religion. They have been taught that marrying

someone from another religion might displease their god. Moreover, this will bring disrespect to

their family. The girl has been told by her mother that she can marry a rickshaw driver from her

own religion, but she won't allow her to marry anyone from another religion. Furthermore, the

girl has been a victim of emotional blackmail by her mother. Her mom told her that if she

married a boy from another religion, she would commit suicide. However, their love has still
kept them together. They both believe that there is only one creator who created all of them.

They both are respectful of the opposite person’s religion. Lastly, the problem they have faced

that harassment. Most often, they introduce themself as a couple in front of other people they are

being made fun of. Now moving on to the married couple the first struggle they had to go

through was the acceptance of their family. At first, their family did not support them. They were

being left out by their family. Though slowly, they gained their family support. Secondly, their

family became isolated from their relatives. Their family often feels uncomfortable talking about

them in front of others. Thirdly, they got isolated from society. They became the hot topic among

their relatives, neighbors and people around them. People used to criticize them in their back

highly. Fourthly, after the child's birth, both families tried their best to make the child convert to

their family religion. It has been seventeen years since they are not entirely trouble-free.

Nonetheless, there are some good sides to interreligious marriage in Bangladesh. Firstly,

interreligious marriage fosters social integration and religious understanding. Marriage across

various religions helps break down misconceptions and prejudices. This can improve social

harmony in a country still struggling with religious polarization and communal violence.

Secondly, interreligious marriage promotes personal growth and resilience. It can extend

horizons and increase understanding by introducing fresh viewpoints, worldviews, and

experiences. Interfaith couples can also learn to negotiate and navigate differences to grow

personally.

Thirdly, interreligious marriage might symbolize religious harmony and love. It can disrupt the

mainstream narrative of religious conflict and division and encourage tolerance and acceptance

of variety. Interfaith couples can show people that love and respect are universal.
Fourthly, interreligious marriage can advocate for societal change. Interfaith couples can

confront social and political concerns in their communities to promote social justice and equality.

They can also use their connections to protest interfaith couples-discriminatory laws and

practices.

To sum up, social, cultural, and legal considerations in Bangladesh present substantial barriers to

interreligious marriage. But interfaith couples can get past these problems and build strong,

happy relationships if they understand, respect, and talk to each other. This means challenging

social norms and traditions that are unfair to people who choose to marry outside their faith.