There are many reasons why parents separate.  Sometimes, parents separate because they hold different religious beliefs.  At other times, parents hold the same religious beliefs at the time of the divorce or separation but change their beliefs over time.  When parents are very religious, they may include a clause in an agreement requiring a specified level of religious observance. The courts have now limited the ability to force a parent to abide by strict religious requirements.  Instead, while the children may be required to be raised in a certain manner, raising children cannot prohibit a parent from expressly himself or herself.