Why do Atheists have a lower divorce rate than believers?

Question

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

Specifically:
Born-again Christians 27%
Other Christians 24%
Atheists, Agnostics 21%

Why do you think that is?

Answer 1

I think atheists aren't bound by the "traditional" roles that religion insists men and women hold (man is the patriarch, woman is subservient), thus communication is much more open.

The most interesting thing about those statistics is they are based on a study done by the Barna Research Group, a religious testing group that promotes transition and assistance to religious groups. Their 1999 study was an attempt to show that religious faith reduces the likelihood of divorce. The results shocked them: Atheists had the lowest average divorce rates (defined as the percentage of people who had been divorced at least once in their lives), at 21%. Christian divorce rates averaged about 24% (higher for "born-again" Christians, ie- fundamentalists, at 27%), and even higher for Jews, at 30%.

Curiously, If you go look for this study on their website, you'll see that the article was edited to lump all "non-born-again adults" into a single category thus changing the fact that atheists had the lowest divorce rates. Can't have those atheists looking good now, can we.

Answer 2

There could be lots of underlying factors.

Maybe when a family becomes born again, one person is, how should I say, more into it than the other.

Also, when problems do arise maybe atheist and agnostics are more likely to try counslin based on sound psychological methods where a Chrisitan may get counsling through the church that tells them to put their faith in God.

Also, since atheists don't have the, no sex before marriage rule, maybe they wait longer to get married, and therefore wait until they have become accomplished in what they want to do and find the right partner, not just the first partner.

Of course, this is all speculation and real studies would have to be done to see why.

Answer 3

Could it be because you have to actually choose to be an atheist, but 80% of Americans are born into their religious statistic? I have literally met hundreds of people who are born-again Christians according to the census bureau, but have never set foot in a Christian Church.

Are these numbers based on the US population? All of the Christians in the United States (80% of the population) only make up about 12% of Christians world-wide.

Answer 4

I was surprised at the Jewish rate (30%) that you did not mention. I wonder if that is Jewish-cultural (so secular divorce) or Jewish Orthodox/practising (so requiring an official Get - much tougher).

The site offers its own reasons for conservative Christians' rates too:

* More couples enter their first marriage at a younger age.
bullet Average household incomes are lower (OK and AR rate 46th and 47th in the U.S.)
* They have a lower percentage of Roman Catholics, a denomination that does not recognize divorce.
* Some factor in conservative Protestantism may causes a higher level of divorce (rather vague)

I think Weemaryanne has got it right though - it is an extrapolation of the first factor above (young marrying age).

Answer 5

Well, I don't know if these statistics are accurate, but my opinion is that atheists/agnostics and non-born-agains see women as equals and the female is less likely to get pissed off.

Answer 6

Probably because of our approach to the world. Most of us understand that we have to earn everything we get in this world, and that there is no "magic" in two people being together. You're soulmates because you work at it and make it so, in other words, you made your decision and know you have to work to make it work.

Others may blame someone or something when things don't go according to their fantasies. They may think that "god" put them together, so everything must be perfect because god loves them and only wants the best for them. After the rude awakening, some try to stick in there and pray their spouse changes, some decide that they made a mistake and say things "god didn't tell me to marry him/her, I did that myself" despite all of god's obvious warnings like "my six month old baby nephew started crying the moment he/she walked into the room" or "my momma never liked him/her...".

They aren't all like that, but they are slightly more likely to divorce because of disillusionment than atheists/agnostics are, simply because of the differences in perspective of reality.

Answer 7

Atheists, agnostics, Lutherans, and Catholics all have the same divorce rate.

Catholics 21%
Lutherans 21%
Atheists, Agnostics 21%

Answer 8

Could it be that christians have very little respect for the woman. I mean, they are second class citizens in their eyes and need to be told what to do, honor that man, and all that BS. Don't know how a woman can even accept that idea in the first place. Perhaps its low self esteem.

Answer 9

The percentages are not adjusted for the numbers.
There are quite a few lewss Atheists than Christians.
Also decidedly Atheists and Agnostics do not have as many marriages.

Answer 10

A few reasons, I'd guess. One is that believers often assume they agree on what their religion's stance is on issues - but they don't. Another is that churchgoing offers a ready opportunity to hook up with an opposite sex member who is volunteering for one thing or another - and it happens, often (the church I grew up going to had several scandals where affairs happened because of church relationships, including one where the pastor's daughter was impregnated by the youth minister - who was not her husband!)