“There’s a yearning in them, and that all wants to be expressed in terms of the sacred and the holy and within the context of God’s presence,” says Rev. Ann Abernethy, a United Church of Christ pastor.

Watch more of our interview about religious services of commitment with UCC minister and retirement community chaplain Ann Abernethy, who says, “One of the great gifts of being a clergy person is that we are really invited into people’s lives at a time of blessing.”

Young Mormons are pursuing their educations and careers “not with the purpose of delaying marriage, but with the idea that we want to have a full life that includes all of those things,” says Beverli Jo DeWalt, a single Mormon woman.

It is a painful rite of passage for girls in many African and Middle Eastern countries. But in Senegal there has been a remarkably successful campaign to change people's attitudes towards female circumcision in an effort to eliminate the practice altogether.

“I believe that marriage education is the best anti-poverty program the federal government has ever invested in, “ says Dennis Stoica, president of the California Healthy Marriages Coalition.

Look back at excerpts from our conversations with reporters over the past 10 years on religion and its changing role in the world.

"The fear people have is that if my child is raised in the other parent’s religion, then the child will grow closer to the other parent," says one interfaith family mediator.

Sunitha Mani is an Indian Hindu, born in America. Her mother calls her a modern girl. Even so, as she prepares for her marriage, she is going the traditional route, and then some.

Episcopalians will debate a proposal that would allow churches to conduct same-sex weddings in the six states that have legalized gay marriage. Most mainline denominations don't officially allow same-sex weddings. But the changing legal situation is adding new pressure.

Read more of Kim Lawton's interview with the Rev. Ed Bacon, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California.