Why does the Bible Belt "lead the nation" in divorce rates?

Question

Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma have divorce rates of about twice the national average. If religion leads to strong marriages, why do these notoriously pious states have such high divorce rates?

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?page=article&Article_ID=10961

Answer 1

Because religion DOESN'T lead to stronger marriages. Studies have shown that non-religious couples are more likely to stay together than religious ones. Maybe because the non-religious will be more likely to find out they aren't 'compatible' ahead of time.

Answer 2

Very exciting question...what information lower back up your assertion proving that divorce expenditures are maximum interior the "bible belt" and lowest in Massachusetts? i don't have something to base this on, yet whilst all components of your assertion are real--the divorce fee is maximum interior the bible belt, lowest in Massachusetts, and Massachusetts is predominantly irreligious, then in line with risk the divorce fee is greater because of the fact an more desirable variety of people decide directly to marry interior the bible belt. If Massachusetts could be categorized as 'irreligious' then that is in all probability that extra people might bypass classic marriage in Massachusetts than interior the bible belt because of the fact that marriage is deeply rooted as a non secular covenant between 2 people. subsequently, better variety of inhabitants interior the bible belt who persist with non secular custom marry, then the numbers might additionally look better for the bible belt's usual divorce fee. There might desire to be an equivalent or better variety of couples "splitting up" in Massachusetts that weren't married interior the 1st place, so their total divorce fee won't look as severe.

Answer 3

I lived in TN for a few years, and I believe you are right!
Might be because there is nothing to do there except have premarital sex, do drugs and criticize other peoples sexual preference and religion. A good state to live in if you are a Christian.

Answer 4

Simple answer there my friend. Religion DOES NOT lead to stronger marriages. I am a Christian and I will be the first to say that.

Answer 5

Many Evangelical Protestants (no, I am not saying that all are like this) that believe they can do no wrong, and resort, often, to faith withou reason (also not all are like this). And to a lesser degree other Protestants. Catholics continue to have lower divorce rates.

Answer 6

Could be because fundamentalist christians seem to get married when they are still children (16-21 yrs. old) and in their culture women are conditioned to believe success for them means marriage.

Answer 7

People are hard enoug to live with but when you have one or both very religious to the point they try to control the other, it can lead to problems. .

Answer 8

because they are the biggest hypocrites on the planet.

following most ot the bible tenets (like DON'T DIVORCE) would make their lives inconvenient.

so, they sin, and tell themselves they'll be saved later because they love jeebus.

and then, they shriek about all the bible tenets that don't affect them, and demand that they be enforced...like all the anti-gay laws.

christians think this gives them the right to hate people.

Answer 9

Maybe the people in the other states are so sinful that they don't even get married.

Answer 10

Yup. Hypocrites. Atheists keep the best and most faithful marriages. Mine is great.