Bobzammel

I read somewhere that statistics have stated that divorce rates are actually *higher* in Christians, despite the biblical commands not to divorce unless extra-martial sex(adultery) is being commited. This practice is actually fairly high among those who consider them fundamentalists.
So what could be the cause? Well, It's possible that it's because several of the super-fundamentalist churches forbid dating and will not marry people unless they are bethroed or espoused--meaning the marriage is pre-arranged or the family is asked express permission, with little to no courtship beforehand. Another element is that the spouse's love is considered second to god(Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:26), which I could imagine causing problems....

mike_decock

According to the data I saw, the more fundamentalist ("Born Again") Christians had a higher divorce rate than the average Christians as well.

I think this is because of the inherent sexism in the Bible - Wives should submit to their husbands, etc.

-Mike...

Melkor

Not to mention the problems that most fundies have with concepts like co-habitation.

Radorth

Where are these "fundy Christian" people I keep hearing about? Do any of them ever post here?

I really hope to see one with my own eyes some day.

Rad

Yellum Notnef

You might try looking into one of those mirrors of yours.

I'm of the opinion that anyone who believes the nuttier parts of the NT is a fundy....resurrection,sky going black,Jesus appearing to Paul after death,miracles etc.

BUT...if you want to try to seperate yourself from those who believe in the OT baloney than Magus would be a guy who fits the bill as "super fundy".

Since one wacky story is just as bad as the next and the OT and NT both contain wacky stories that are FUNDAMENTAL to the faith,this makes you and and Magus both fundies IMO.

Miss Piggy

My guess is that non-religious people get married only when they are really sure that their marriage will last, otherwise they just co-habitate.

I've heard that people in many religious sects get married very young (in their early twenties). Most people are relatively immature at that age.

Undercurrent

I'm sure that there is a sub-demographic of non-christians which would make a better comparison. Atheists are disporportionately represented in the classes of higher-educated people, and probably get married later, in general. That's probably what's causing the divorce rate difference.

Rhea

Yes, I strongly suspect that "separating the variables" would be illuminating in this context.

I've seen plenty of data showing that Athiests divorce less than both Christians and Jews, but I've never seen statistics which claim, "controlling for income, age and education, the data show..." And I suspect that it is not Atheism, per se, but rather other factors which happen to concentrate in groups of atheists, which account for the lower divorce rate.

Although, one would think, ahem, that if churches were really interested in reducing divorce, they would perform such a study and figure out how to accomplish by instruction what Atheists accomplish by chance.

Y'know?

Just another head-shaker thought of mine.

sakrilege

My small sample set...

My oldest sister has been married for 32 years. She is an atheist and my BIL a deist. Still married, still going strong.

My youngest sister was married 17 years before getting divorced. They are both fundy and got married in an overtly xian ceremony. The whole 'made in heaven' relationship, god at the core. She was the typical fundy wife where she followed her husband's direction. They prayed together every day. Oh well.

Again, just my anecdotal stories.

beth

Rad, my dear, that is probably because you are in L.A., come down here and if I don't beam you over the head first, I'll show you all the fundys you could imagine. It's all nestled in the shadows of evil, wicked, crime infested Tampa. I'll also let you in on the agenda to fundify Tampa and give it over to God. This truly is fundy paradise. The fundies have their cell groups of holiness, while they get to enjoy talking about how all the evil people are going to hell.