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Does Christianity really foster better families?

Started by Herp-art, 08/01/2010 04:00PM
Posted 08/01/2010 04:00PM | Edited 08/01/2010 04:03PM Opening Post
Our discussion about gay marriage seems to center around the family and whether gays would be acceptable parents. It has been pointed out that while the evidence for gays having a negative affect on marriage is slim, there is ample evidence that being Christian can actually make you more likely to get a divorce. We all know the terrible effects that divorce can have on children.

This website looks at divorce statistics for various faith groups:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

"Divorce rates among conservative Christians were significantly higher than for other faith groups, and much higher than Atheists and Agnostics experience."

By myself I am statistically insignificant, but I'm a liberal atheist, and I've been married to my one and only wife for 37 years. My own take on this statistic is that your typical atheists and agnostics tend to be much more educated than your typical conservative Christian. Education level can have significant correlation to divorce rates.

I find this really interesting, since the conservative Christians are those who are yelling the loudest about gay marriage.


http://www.johnnagnew.com
http://herps2art.wordpress.com
Posted 08/01/2010 04:40PM #1
Not sure how the link you provided is saying what they are saying given the actual research results. Unless I'm missing something does not seem to line up.

Your link says: "Divorce rates among conservative Christians were significantly higher than for other faith groups, and much higher than Atheists and Agnostics experience."

Hoever, the actual Barna Group study says that out of the 3792 adults surveyed, that the divorce percentage on average was 33%, for A/As was 30%, and then it ranged from 26% to 38% depending on the religious group. Interestingly, probably the strongest religious group, evangelical christians, had the lowest divorce numbers at 26%.

So based on the actual study results, I would tend to say that the strongest christan groups have the lowest divorce rate. The study does state though that any percentage within 3 points of each other is within the sampling error...so a tight race between groups.

What the study did not state was what age the survey population was. Seems this would be critical as can't evaluate a divorce rate if talking to predominently people in their 40's or younger.

http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/15-familykids/42-new-marriage-and-divorce-statistics-released

So bottom line, I think the conclusions in your link are a bit suspect.
Posted 08/01/2010 05:16PM | Edited 08/03/2010 12:18PM #2
John Agnew said:

Our discussion about gay marriage seems to center around the family and whether gays would be acceptable parents. It has been pointed out that while the evidence for gays having a negative affect on marriage is slim, there is ample evidence that being Christian can actually make you more likely to get a divorce. We all know the terrible effects that divorce can have on children.

This website looks at divorce statistics for various faith groups:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

"Divorce rates among conservative Christians were significantly higher than for other faith groups, and much higher than Atheists and Agnostics experience."

By myself I am statistically insignificant, but I'm a liberal atheist, and I've been married to my one and only wife for 37 years. My own take on this statistic is that your typical atheists and agnostics tend to be much more educated than your typical conservative Christian. Education level can have significant correlation to divorce rates.

I find this really interesting, since the conservative Christians are those who are yelling the loudest about gay marriage.


You and I have discussed this before, John. As everyone here obviously knows, I also am a socially liberal atheist and have been a non-believer since early childhood. And like you, I have only been married once, for 24 years now.
I'm not saying that non-belief is the key to a long marriage, but belief in god obviously isn't a prerequisite. What really irks me is when people with a history of failed relationships preach to me that I need god in my life to strengthen my family. What a bunch of hypocrites.
Posted 08/02/2010 04:05PM #3
They shout loadly when something "offends" them. The strange thing is most of what they shout about would not be done by them (in theory).

In my experience the typical Christian Fundie just wants to run other peoples' lives, watch boring TV, have lots of fat kids and hunt out of season.

If they really want to be isolated, Just move to Giuana or Waco. Oh... sorry...
Steve
8)