"Debating the December Dilemma," an open discussion on how interfaith and secular/faith households handle the holidays, will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton on Sunday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and String of Pearls Reconstructionist Synagogue in Princeton, the discussion free and open to the public will be led by the Rev. Forrest Gilmore of the UUCP, Rabbi Daniel Brenner of String of Pearls and Cliff Koblin, a counselor.
In the American Religious Identification Survey 2001, almost one-quarter of couples surveyed lives in mixed-religion households, for a total of 28 million couples. For Protestants, the mixed-religion rate was 33 percent; for Jews, 27 percent; for Catholics, 23 percent; for Muslims, 21 percent. This presents a complex and potentially difficult time during the holiday season.
"We hope to discuss many creative approaches to the particular challenges of interfaith families during this season," says Rabbi Brenner.
"America is more than 85 percent Christian, but there was a reason that our founders did not establish a ‘Church of America’ they had faith that people would respect each other’s religious choices. Those who assume that everyone celebrates Christmas may be well-meaning but they are also uninformed about the reality of New Jersey’s religious diversity," says the rabbi.
String of Pearls is home to about 30 percent interfaith households.
"The holidays can be a time of increased stress," says Mr. Koblin. "It can also be a time of abuse of alcohol and other substances, increases in family disagreements and potential financial problems." Mr. Koblin hopes to offer some "proactive coping strategies."
For more information, call Larry Cohen, (609) 987-8590, or the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, (609) 924-1604. The UUCP is located at 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton.

