ABSTRACT
Justice, relationship quality, and sacredness are interconnected facets in the discussion of marriage as a legal, social, and religious institution. Professional interactions with couples, however, are often allocated to specialized individuals: clergy in marital preparation programs and wedding ceremonies, counselors during marital challenges, or lawyers in divorce proceedings. This study explores how cultural and societal values influence the attitudes of such professionals toward marriage. In this work, 172 German lawyers, counselors, and Christian clergy answered an online survey. Results from statistical analysis revealed that attitudes differed significantly between professions, denominations, and genders. This article discusses these differences and how interdisciplinary collaboration may benefit couples during marriage, divorce, and remarriage.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).