Christians: how do you explain christian divorce rates being higher than atheist divorce rates?

Question

here's one article discussing this trend, (though there are many) http://www.sullivan-county.com/bush/divorce.htm

Incidentally, 27% of Christians in the US have at some point been divorced.
21% of atheists have at some point been divorced.

Does this give you some pause? Because I've read many claims saying things like "Christianity is the only basis for a really healthy marriage", and things like that. But these statistics seem to indicate atheist marriages are better.

And just for the record, I don't mean this in any kind of attacking "gotcha!" sort of way. I'm just interested in your reactions. Thanks.

Answer 1

Rational people tend to make rational decisions. Irrational people who "follow their heart" will do the opposite.

Answer 2

Atheists are more likely to be "living in sin"?
It is really hard to answer that. I could tell you it is because atheists also tend to be better educated with higher incomes than believers, and there is a correlation between having enough money to support a marriage and divorce rates.

I could also point out how unforgiving, intolerant and misogenist many of the religious here in Y!A are.

Either way there is not enough in the data set you present to draw any real conclusions about why that difference exists.
But being religious certainly does not seem to improve your chances for a good marriage.
Most churches I have been to, especially the more fundamental, ones always seem overloaded with young single mothers too.

Edit: LOL@ Preys Jesus sarcasm!

Answer 3

Somewhat interesting facts but truly is a person a Christian because they say that they are? What makes a person a christian is walking in this life like christ and one should really find out about these individuals and why they were divorced - remember the only reason for christian to divorce is their mates cheating/ having sexual relations outside the marriage - was this the reason for these divorces? did these individuals really present themselves as Christians by daily living in a manner that would indicate so?
I have been referred to by others as a good christian, by the way in which I live and take care of my loved ones, and as a preacher/teacher by others and I have had the pleasure of being married for 13 years " happy " and hope for many more, if my father - god - be willing. AMEN!

Answer 4

I will be honest, many of those so called Christians may not be Christians afterall. Anyone that divorces based on silly reasons like looks or something most likely are not Christians and need to be born again Truly. False conversions are a HUGE problem nowadays. TRUE Christians are the Minority NOT the Majority. For example, I read that one so called Christian woman made a bad comment about bald men saying:" that Bald men look like walking penises or *****". Now obviously that is NOT the character of a true Christian and she is a false convert and so is ANYONE that thinks in those shallow terms, and that habitually sins willfully and insults others and is selfish, shallow and they practice it continually. Those types of women and men are not Christians and need to be TRULY SAVED!! ANY divorce that is not under Bibical grounds is wrong and I am not sure if those people or the person that initiated the divorce is a True Christians!!

Answer 5

Another shabby stab at Christians. Here is one for you. Did you know that 90% of marriages that invovle US Army personal end in divorce? Those 13-14 month rotations to Iraq take a toll on familes. After 2-3 of those trips in a 5 year span a family is ruined. It is not always a Christian or Athiset or religious thing. I am a member of the US Air Force and I have done trips to Afghanistan and Iraq and it does take a toll on marriages. My first wife split from me because we were stationed in Japan and it just wasn't the life she wanted. So why doesn't the American public say anything about the Military Family? I say the military family in todays time has the toughest life in America, especially the Army folks.

Answer 6

The pressure to marry in order to have a healthy sex life is the only religious concern I see and perhaps some dogma.
Christian marriages are not always made up of two Christians who believe the same...and since there are a lot more of us than atheists, that would certainly happen more often.

If this is just for the record and there is no ulterior motive, why bother to give the "these statistics seem to indicate atheist marriages are better" line, lol. Never trust statistics, even ones you can document, they can be made to say whatever you want them to.

CAPTAIN ATHEIST...ARE YOU SAYING ATHEISTS DO NOT FALL IN LOVE OR DO NOT LOVE THEIR PARTNERS, I AM VERY CONFUSED. ATHEISTS JUST GET MARRIED WHEN ITS REASONABLE. ISN'T THAT KIND OF.......SAD.

The Ol' Hippie Jesus Freak
Grace and Peace
Peg

Answer 7

Actually you are not citing the statistics correctly, per the article you reference. 27% was the number given for whites, without regard to religion. It is also the figure for the South and the Midwest.

Atheists have the same divorce rate (21%) as Catholics and Lutherans.

It was Baptists (29%) and non-demoninational Protestants (34%) that had the highest rates and the article indicated it might have to do with young age at marriage.

Answer 8

That's a really good question.
I think that Christians' divorce rate is higher because of high expectations and a different moral standard.
(I'm not saying that atheists and agnostics are immoral...I'm not saying that at all!) BUT, I do think that overall, Christians hold strong to a certain set of beliefs of right and wrong. Certain things in a marriage may be unacceptable (drug use, infidelity, partying, etc.) to both groups of people, but perhaps Christians are more likely to divorce because of these things. The lofty ideas of what a Christian marriage is like could be shattered because of a bump in the road and before you know it, all bets are off. The non-religious groups may be more likely to tough it out. I think they have less pressure to have a "great marriage"....I know many Christians who strive to have the perfect marriage in the eyes of the church and would be super ashamed if they didn't. (so they prefer to get divorced? go figure!)

Answer 9

Aren't atheists least likely to marry? If they don't marry, they don't have to divorce.

Another point: I read a Barna survey that supported a higher divorce rate among southern Christians. However, the survey didn't confirm the person was truly "Born Again," nor did it confirm whether the divorce happened before or after the person came to believe. For that matter, it didn't cull out those who divorced vs. those who were divorced (i.e. whether or not the believer was the initiator of the divorce). I think that's a pretty relevant fact, don't you?

Answer 10

The biggest mistake people make is thinking that we Christians have been transformed to perfection.
I do believe a lot of divorces exist in Christian homes.
So much of society pulls people in all directions with it's an everything's okay sort of mentality. Sometimes we forget to look to Jesus and go with our feelings which may be way off course.
Christians - me for instance - are sinners who have been forgiven through the blood and cross of Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean I won't make mistakes along the road of my life here on earth. Everyday we are faced with temptations.
Not all Christian marriages have failed due to the sin of both people. One may want to stay. You may be a married Christian thinking your partner will want to stay with you until you die, but you cannot control your partner even in a Christian marriage. He may be looking to something else, or someone.
We've all sinned.
The first thing a non-believer will point out are the mistakes a Christian makes with an ah -ha mentality (I'm not referring to you here) and they will point out their mistakes as if it's their job in life to point them out.
Though Christians are saved, we can still err - we can still boo boo big time. None of us is perfect. Not even Christians.
That's why we need Christ to help us through life. Our perfection will come with eternal life..

Answer 11

Unfortunately those that deem themselves "Christians" are not necessarily those that always line themselves up with Biblical morals and beliefs.

The values and principles portrayed in the Bible is the basis needed for a healthy marriage. Whether the "atheists" lives manifest these principles better than the "Christians" doesn't change the fact that they are in the Bible.