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Document Details : Title: Marital Spirituality Subtitle: A Narrative Study Author(s): GIBLIN, Paul R. Journal: Marriage, Families & Spirituality Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Date: 2007 Pages: 41-52 DOI: 10.2143/INT.13.1.2021299 Abstract : This article summarizes the qualitative findings of a research study of three dozen couples for whom faith was an important part of their lives. Over two interviews typically totaling 3 hours couples explored their marital story. They were asked to describe their communication and conflict management patterns, how they make decisions and sustain commitment, how they convey appreciation and respect, how they play together, their ritual life, and their sexuality. Together with the interviewer they constructed a family genogram and time line. Following the gathering of the psychological and emotional facts of their history and current functioning they reflected theologically and spiritually on this data. One of the most interesting findings of the study was not how faith/spirituality influenced marriage but just the opposite, i.e., how their marriage had significantly impacted their images and experiences of God, and their experiences of the spiritual sense of gratitude, acceptance, forgiveness, surrender, and prayer among other dynamics. |
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