I multiformi confini dell’esperienza matrimoniale e familiare. Gli orizzonti cultuali e culturali dei New Religious Movements

The essay addresses marriage and related family dynamics within three new religious movements: Bahá’í, the Unification Church, and Scientology. For each of the three religious groups, an overview necessary for understanding the norms and reasons behind some definitely unique cult practices related to the celebration of marriage has been provided. In addition, it has been highlighted how, although marriage and family are currently going through a period of crisis in the secularized West, these new cults regulate in detail the celebration of weddings as well as the stage before and after the establishment of the marital bond. Therefore, marriage still represents a rite of passage perceived as essential in the personal faith experience in these communities. It is precisely this fact that could represent, prospectively, a solid basis for initiating a dialogue with public institutions that encourages religious pluralism.