Oftentimes, especially in America, people move away from their religious background during much of their teenage and young adult years. They seem to drift back in some shape or form when they have children of their own, or are contemplating having children. The high rate of intermarriage - Jews marrying non-Jews - complicates the discussion couples have on what level of observance they will have in their home. One has to first discuss what religion will be taught and followed.

"I'm half Jewish and half Christian" is a line I have heard so many times. It always makes me think to ask which half, in a joking way. But I don't. Instead I wonder how they work it out. Sure, you can technically go to synagogue on Saturday and church on Sunday. One can look forward to celebrating both Passover and Easter, Chanukkah and Christmas. But when theology enters the picture, which way do you go? There really is no way to believe that the teachings of Christianity and Judaism are both true. Each one contradicts the other. And while one can clearly go through the motions, rituals and observances of both religions in one home, it becomes almost secularized forms of each religion if the theology and philosophy isn't there.

So what happens in an interfaith home? Hopefully they will seek help from a local interfaith group - there are many - and think carefully about how their choices will effect their children. An adoptive interfaith family is no different in this case - maybe even more complex - if one parent wants to convert the child to Judaism, and the other wants to have him or her baptized. (There's a short article in this week's Newsweek related to conversion and interfaith families worth a quick read. It can be found here).