Research on Interfaith Marriage

Q. I am interested in undertaking a PHD research on inter-faith marriage with reference Christianity and Islam. I need the following guide; a consultant, a recommended institution, sponsorship etc .

A. I'm sorry we can't help you with a consultant, institution or sponsorship.

You will have to check with universities of interest to see if they have a tutor that can supervise a doctoral thesis on this topic. If you are from the USA or the UK this is very likely.

The university that you register with may also have funds available for PhD students. You usually have to apply some time before the academic year starts to have any hope of being considered. You can also apply for part-funding to Trusts that may find your thesis of interest. If you are in the UK go to your local library and sit down with the Directory of Grant Making Trusts and other related reference publications and be prepared to write lots of letters, get lots of rejections but also, maybe, get some help towards fees or books or relevant conference attendance etc. You are less likely to find full time sponsorship to cover all your costs. You can also check out some grant making bodies at www.grantsonline.org.uk, www.acf.org.uk and www.grantsforindividuals.org.uk.

For research these support groups will be of interest and may offer guidance to specific texts and resources to assist your study:
Muslim-Christian Marriage Support group www.mcmarriage.org.uk
Interfaith Marriage Network www.interfaithmarriage.org.uk
Presbyterian Church USA ( advice and resources) www.pcusa.org/interfaith/study/marriage.htm
Mainly from a Jewish perspective, see resources listed at www.interfaithfamily.com/relationships/marriage_and_relationships/Interfaith_Marriage_A_Compilation_of_Supportive_Resources.shtml

Publications that might be of interest:
Till Faith Us Do Part: Couples Who Fall in Love Across the Religious Divide by Jonathan Romain, Fount 1996.
Paul Knitter and Heather Al-Yousuf both wrote about interfaith marriage in our book A Global Guide to Interfaith: Reflections from around the World (Sandy and Jael Bharat, O-Books, 2007).
Part of a paper by Gé Speelman of Utrecht University on Muslim-Christian marriage can be found online at www.interchurchfamilies.org/journal/98su12.shtm.
This site lists the ‘Top 10” books on interfaith marriage: http://marriage.about.com/od/interfaith/tp/interfaithbooks.htm.
Amazon and other online book sellers have many relevant books addressing aspects of interfaith marriage.

For original research why not create a questionnaire and visit/write/email churches and mosques, Christian and Muslim scholars, priests and imams, to get detailed and informed responses to your questions.