Mixed Marriages Feared

Just as Radcliffe students tend to be more conservative in retaining the religious tradition of their childhood, the girls are somewhat more inclined to disapprove of mixed marriages. Among the reasons most frequently checked were: "problem of children's religious education," "dislike of certain doctrines in this other faith," "parental reaction," and "fear of 'mixed marriage' in general."

At least a half-dozen Radcliffe girls penned in reasons for objecting to mixed marriage on the more personal grounds of wanting to feel a "oneness" with their partners on this fundamental matter of religion: "Feel I must agree with mate on religion to be happy." "There are certain parts of Jewish life I want to have in my home--I think I'd enjoy life with a person who could share these moments and activities with me." "Sharing religion is basic to a marriage, I think."

Apart from their greater concern with preserving religion in the family, the Radcliffe respondants diverged from Harvard in their more marked devotion to religious practices, specifically individual prayer and attendance of religious services. Yet almost surprisingly, the girls are no more inclined than the men to "regard active connection with a church or synagogue as essential to religious life." Of those students who indicated some belief in divine presence, only 30 per cent at either college consider church connection necessary for a full religious life.

Weekly church attendance attracts the same proportion at Harvard and Radcliffe, 23 per cent. Radcliffe, however, shows a larger proportion of students who worship twice a month or monthly than Harvard does and there are fewer 'Cliffies who never or seldom attend church. While 11 per cent of Harvard believers never go to church or synagogue and 12 1/2 per cent only twice a year, the corresponding figures for Radcliffe are a mere 5 per cent and 4 per cent.

Radcliffe girls, according to the poll, gave far greater credence to the value of prayer. While 41 per cent of Radcliffe students believing in God perform daily devotions, only 23 per cent of Harvard believers do so. Correspondingly, only 18 per cent of these Radcliffe girls never pray, while 33 per cent of Harvard men who believe in some "divine presence" never pray.

Fewer Reject Immortality

While most of the Harvard-Radcliffe differences occur in the areas of religious practice or of family life, rather than belief, there is a moderate divergence on the question of belief in immortality. Although an almost equal proportion believe in "the continued existence of the individual soul," fewer girls are ready to deny immortality. Only 16 girls answer an outright "no" to immortality for every 20 Harvard men who deny a belief in it.

In questions of the material world, Radcliffe students illustrated slightly less concern than their Harvard counterparts. The tendency to go in one direction or the other, however, was slight for men and women alike.

The Radcliffe girls, however, tended more toward pacifism. The contrast emerged on the question: "IF the United States should find itself in such a position that all other alternatives were closed, save a world war with the Soviet Union OR surrender to the Soviet Union, would you favor war or surrender?" While the substantial majority of both men and girls selected "war," Radcliffe girls were more prone to consider "surrender" as an acceptable alternative. Whereas 75 per cent of the Harvard men chose "war," only 64 per cent of the Radcliffe girls preferred "war" to "surrender."

Radcliffe students also expressed greater favor than Harvard men on partial surrender of American sovereignty. A slim majority of the girls favored a serious attempt at international federation or world government, while, among Harvard students, the opponents were in the majority.

Striking contrasts between Harvard and Radcliffe student opinions thus must be sought in the religious rather than the political questions. Radcliffe girls exhibit slightly greater interest in religion than their Harvard counterparts--a difference made manifest by a greater inclination to resolution to perpetuate their own religious traditions through marriage and family.

And yet the Radcliffe girls did not play down the importance of everyday political questions, especially conworship and prayer and by a firmer cerning feminine equality. The spirit of Carrie Nation showed through in one girl's answer to the question, "Would you have any objections to the election as President of the United States of a Roman Catholic, a Protestant, a Jew, an atheist or agnostic." She checked her objection to "an atheist" with this remark: "if he made a public point about it. Otherwise it's his or her own business."