HARMONY OF INTERFAITH MARRIAGES IN SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RELATIONS PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY

Abstract

Conflicts due to religious differences still often occur today, but it is different from what happens in Kedungwangan Hamlet, although there are many interfaith marriages, social and religious harmony is something that is well maintained. This research aims to find out and analyze the meaning behind interfaith marriage families in which harmonious relations in social and religious life are built in the community. This research is a fieldb ased qualitative research with a social exchange theory approach. Data collection techniques consist of observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The results showed that social and religious harmony in Kedungwangan Hamlet is due to the historical factor of this hamlet that has practiced interfaith marriages for generations, the role of parents who teach tolerance values, the factor of community leaders who continue to preserve harmony in social life. The research also shows that Islam, Catholicism and Christianity can survive in maintaining religious harmony and social harmony because of social exchange. Interreligious adherents do this on the basis of several mutual benefits, namely the creation of a life of minimal conflict, mutual assistance for each other's religious ritual activities, mutual acceptance of interfaith marriages and each member is free to choose a religion.