Why is the divorce rate higher in born again Christians than in atheists?

Question

Religion % have been divorced
Jews 30%
Born-again Christians 27%
Other Christians 24%
Atheists, Agnostics 21%


http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

Answer 1

You will get a lot of answers denying this--but you're right. Why is fairly straightforward. The "born-again" chruches are overwhelming snared in the right'wing cultism of "fundamentalism" (extremism)--I say that to distinguish them from legitimate Christian churches (and your point about divorce rates does not hold for mainstream churches).

That being said--in these extremist churches, men are not held accountable for their actions--or restricted in terms of abuse of women (or children). As a consequence, when its convenient, these men simply dump their wives and kids. On the other side, sometimes women trapped in these marriages wise up and get out.

Answer 2

1. Christians, especially Evangelicals, marry too young.

2. Atheists are generally more educated. Education and marriage stability have a positive correlation.

3. Atheism is a sign of a healthy frame of mind, which will always help a marriage.

4. Atheists do not break up based on differences in religion.

Answer 3

They'll say that it isn't, and they may be right. But one thing is true; the divorce rate is higher---much higher---in bible belt states of the south(Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, etc) than it is in the New England states. In fact---and this IS a fact---the state with the lowest divorce rate in the nation is Massachusetts, a state that many Christian fundamentalists would say is an atheist state. So, in this sense, you are right. A state that many fundamentalists would say is a bunch of godless atheists is the state with the lowest divorce rate in the nation, much lower that the religious states of the south.

Answer 4

Because Christians make mistakes, too, and are more likely to actually marry than live with someone while not married. If you looked at the "break-up" rate of unmarried atheists who live together, I think it would match or even surpass the divorce rate of Christians.

Answer 5

Some Christians try to work their marriage with their spouse. While the spouse may use God's word against them just to prove they will always be right. Or even use his word as a control tactic. That's one way to screw a Christian marriage. This is only one reason. Plus our modern society today is messed up.

Answer 6

Don't know that it's born agains, but the rate is high among Christians. Higher in percentile than Atheists, you'll have to concuslively prove that one to me.

But it's sad that Christians spit in the face of Jesus and defy his wishes and words.

Answer 7

I think it is basically the difference in levels of tolerance. Fundamental christians cannot tolerate those that do not believe as they do. Whereas atheists, having been brought up in a predominantly religious world, are more tolerant of others that do not share their atheism.

Answer 8

I've seen this statistic and if you are going to deal with it honestly I think you need to consider the fact that atheists probably tend to get married later in life the BAs.

It would be a much more useful statistic if compared marriages within the same cohort. But as it stands, it means nothing, IMO.

Answer 9

Born again Christians are sexually repressed and rigid. So they soon drive anyone who is reasonably healthy crazy and they are dumped.

Most divorced born again Christians go on to have same-sex relatiionships in secret like Ted Haggard.

Answer 10

That is a hard question. Could it be that they are not taking their vows or Christianity seriously?

Are they both born again Christians or just one?

If it is one, then they may have grown apart?